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Education, i.e., two neighbouring Education Divisions, Staffing was
to be on the basis of one Psychiatrist, two Educational Psychologists,
two Psychiatric Social Workers, one Psycho-therapist (for Play
Therapy) and one Clerk, all to be full time workers. Approval was
finally received in 1947 for this scheme to serve a school population
amounting to approximately 40,000 children. (The school population
is now 66,000.)
"Extensive structural alterations and redecorations were carried
out at the existing premises in order to provide a waiting room,
office, consulting room, four rooms for the psychologists and the
social workers and two rooms for play therapy, the smaller of which
is supplied with water.
"During 1951 Dr. Gillespie began consultations for children
under five years of age at a child welfare centre with a view to
preventing emotional troubles in such children and educating young
mothers in the handling of their infants. Cases were selected and
referred by the medical and health visiting staff of the welfare
centres.
"Staffing has been continuously increased and in 1955 weekly
sessions amounted to 9 psychiatric and 8 lay psycho-therapeutic. In
addition a fortnightly psychiatric session has been allowed for six
months to reduce the waiting list. The permanent staff comprise—2
Educational Psychologists, 2 Psychiatric Social Workers and 2
Clerical Staff. The Psychiatrists are appointed and paid by the
Regional Hospital Board.
"Children are referred to the Clinic from many sources, for
example, Head Teachers (largely educational cases), School Medical
Staff, Parents, Education Department, Speech Therapists, Family
Doctors, Hospitals, Children's Officer and the Juvenile Court.
" An initial physical examination is always carried out by the
School Medical Staff and/or the Family Doctor, to whom a copy of
the Psychiatrist's report is always sent. This physical examination
includes visual and auditory assessments and, in the case of enuresis,
the result of a urine examination.
"A full time Speech Therapist also works in the same premises,
but independently of the Child Guidance Clinic."
The work of the Clinic was described by Dr. Casimir, Psychiatrist,
by the Educational Psychologists, the Psychotherapists, and
the Psychiatric Social Workers. This was followed by a discussion
on the School Psychological Service and the placement of children,
followed again by a very interesting general discussion.