View report page

28
SPECIALIST CLINICS
CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC.
Dr. Helen Gillespie, Consultant Psychiatrist, reports as
follows on the work of the Child Guidance Clinic:-
General Comments:
There has been an increase in cases referred during the year
in the Walthamstow and Leyton areas. As regards reasons for
referral, the figures show a disproportionate increase in the
category 'Nervous Disorders' referred in the Walthamstow area. It
is satisfactory to know that children of this type are being
increasingly referred for treatment, and not merely those whose
disorder is of high nuisance value".
Since October 1962. children from the Leyton area are no longer
referred to the Centre at Walthamstow, as Leyton now has its own
Child Guidance Centre. We continue, of course, with the children
who have already started treatment here. We now hope to be able
to provide an improved service for the areas for which we
continue to be responsible, that is Walthamstow, Chingford and
Forest Division.
Staffing:
Miss Russell left at the beginning of December, to take up
a residential post at one of the Richmond Fellowship Houses. She
joined the staff of this clinic at its inception in 1945 as a
social worker, and then took her training as a Psychiatric
Social Worker from September, 1946 for one year, and worked in
this capacity from then on. We wish her every success in her
very interesting work.
Play therapy sessions have decreased to five only per week,
since Mrs. Elkan left the clinic last October. We have been
unable so far to fill the vacancy for the remaining five play
therapy sessions.
Activities of Staff Outside the Clinic:
These are expanding. Psychiatric Social Workers Miss Laquer,
Mrs. Pearmain and Miss Ford are meeting four groups of Health
Visitors at regular intervals of about one month. Their aim is
to increase the Health Visitors' interest in preventive mental
Health. The problems which arise in their work with children are
discussed in the setting of the family and its relationships.
Other problems discussed include those of old age and of mental
illness with their family repercussions. The Health Visitors
also gain more knowledge of the Child Guidance Services. The
members of the group find their attitudes change as the result
of the discussions, with a greater tendency to attempt to understand
family and community problems before initiating or sugges
ting possibly ill advised action. Attendance at these groups has
been excellent.