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26
The figures for the problems referred and sources of referral
for the past year do not differ significantly with those of the Country
as a whole.
Development Plan
Under the recently approved scheme the Walthamstow Child
Guidance Clinic is to serve an enlarged area which will include the
neighbouring Borough of Leyton and much of the Forest Division
of Essex. The Clinic will therefore be serving a school population
of approximately 40,000 children of school age.
Extensive structural alterations to the building at 263 High
Street have been passed by the Local and County Committees during
the year, to accommodate seven clinical workers and two clerical
staff. These plans are awaiting sanction by the Ministry of Education,
but so far there is no possibility of work commencing in the
near future ; it is considered unlikely that work will begin before
autumn, 1948 at the earliest.
This inevitable delay in carrying out the structural alterations
holds up our work very considerably, particularly for the areas
outside Walthamstow.
Staffing
During the year new staff appointments have been made to
meet the increased work of the Clinic under the new arrangements.
There has been no increase in Psychiatric sessions during the
year, four sessions weekly having been worked, but since June, 1947,
Dr. Helen Gillespie has acted as Psychiatrist for two of the four
sessions.
In August 1947 Mrs. E. Kelly resigned her appointment as
Psychiatric Social Worker and we were very sorry to lose her
valuable and efficient work. Mrs. I. M. Seglow was appointed with
special reference to the new areas and commenced duties in
September.
Miss A. M. Marshall was appointed as Educational Psychologist
from 1st September, 1947, but her work will be in the schools of
the new areas under the expanded scheme.
Miss Russell returned to the Clinic on the 1st October after one
year's absence, having completed her year of special training in
Edinburgh, and we were very glad to welcome her back.
Mrs. K. Barker was appointed as play therapist for five sessions
a week and commenced duty at the beginning of October.