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"This report covers the period January 1st. to December 31st.1944.
During the year 261 new cases have been referred to the clinic, an
average of 21 per month. This includes the period June - July
when the Psychologist was engaged upon duties connected with '
evacuation due to the fly-bomb attacks and very few referrals were
received. In spite of this interruption the variety of the problems
offered has increased and the sources of referral have expanded as
the detailed statistics at the end of this report proved. Although
the majority of the children are sent on the initiative of the
teaching staff, an increasing number are referred by the School
Medical Department General Practitioners, Probation Officers
(through the Juvenile Court) other L.E.A's, and by the parents
themselves. This is an indication that the value of psychological
treatment for problems of behaviour and for nervous symptons is
being more widely recognised.
Throughout the year 63 cases have been treated at the Clinic
(in 18 cases treatment was cut short by evaouation). 4C new cases
received full diagnosis by the Clinic team. 20 cases have been
closed. 15 of these children are adjusted and the remaining five,
two of whom have left school, are improved - that is, 75% of cases
closed are adjusted, and the remaining 25% improved. We
ascertain by our follow-up system to what extent the adjustment
or the improvement is maintained.
STAFF. We have to state with deep regret that Dr.N.H.Bore, B.A.,
M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., Psyohiatrist to the Clinic, made her last
attendance on September 1st. before she died on September 12th.
Ve owe to her inspiring leadership and auspicious beginning,
many happy contacts between the Clinic and bodies and individuals
whose work impinged upon ours and the shaping and inspiration of
our policy.
In September Dr.E.Whatley, M.B., B.S., was appointed Fsychiatrist
to the Clinic. She attends one session per week and her work
includes diagnosis, treatment and administration. A joint
conference occurs at the end of every session at which we have
welcomed the co-operation of the Director Of Education, the Medical
Officer of Health and his assistants, Head Teachers and Frobation
Officers. we have also had interested visitors from other areas,
end Social Science Students from the South-west Essex Technical
College attend regularly every month.
By May, 1944, the volume of work had increased to such an extent
that we felt the need for a second Psychiatric session per week,
the full-time services of a Social Worker and more clerical help.
A report to this effect was put before the Education Committee and
these requests were granted. Then followed the fly-bomb attacks
and the number of children in the Borough was reduced by evacuation.
It was, therefore, decided to leave the second Psychiatric session
in abeyance until more normal times. Nevertheless the volume of
referrals continued to increase and it became imperative that our
part-time Social Worker should come on a full-time basis. On
November 1st. Miss M.Russell was appointed full-time Social Worker.
She interviews parents both at the Clinic and in their hones as
well as individuals and Agencies concerned with the child's welfare.
The Isychologist is in attendance at the Clinic every afternoon
for diagnostic testing, remedial teaching, play interviews and play
groups.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WORK IN THE SCHOOLS. This important part of a
Isychologist's work occupies the rest of her time and it is ooncerned
with the prevention of mental illness, as the clinic work proper is
concerned with the healing of the mentally sick. Diagnostic testing
and advisory work takes place in the schools where contact with the
teaching staff is thus easily maintained.
School failure is a fruitful cause of anxiety, degression, apathy
in other words, mental ill-health. An experimental attempt has been
made to deal with the core of backwardness in a junior school. The
19.