View report page

20.
Child Guidance Clinic,, -
Dr. Helen Gillespie, Consultant Psychiatrist,
comments as follows on the work of the Clinic.
" The Clinic removed to its new premises at Monoux
Building on April 20th. These are much more convenient
and spacious than the old ones, and the staff all
appreciate the improved amenities.
" There are now eleven psychiatric sessions worked
per week. These have been kept at a steady level since
January 1960. when we were granted two additional
sessions on a temporary basis. This increase has led to
gratifying results in the general turnover of cases
diagnosed and treated.
" As in the previous year. Miss Laquer has given two
lectures on the function and organisation of the Child
Guidance Centre from the P. S VT s point of view, to the
student health visitors at Dagenham Training College.
" There have been some reductions in the time given
by the psychotherapists, but Miss Seccombe joined the
staff on November 10th for two sessions per week, and
this has partially compensated the sessions given up
by Miss Carr and Miss Salzberger. Seven sessions only
are being worked now out of an establishment of ten.
" In July 1960 the clinic was approached by the
Tutor and Organiser of the Mental Health Course held
at the London School of Economics, with a view to
placing two students for six months practical training
in Child Guidance work. Miss Laquer was asked to under
take supervision of their case work and to select
suitable patients for this. This entails a weekly
supervision period for each of these students. As the
students in question are already workers experienced in
the field of social work, we find their services
helpful to the clinic team.
" The first two students will be followed by two
others for the second half of the academic year.
" This is the first time that Mental Health Course
students have been attached to a Local Health Authority
clinic.