View report page

16
SPECIALIST CLINICS
CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC.
The continuing improvement in the physical health of
children permits the School Doctors to devote more time to
treating and seeking to prevent behavioural and emotional disorders.
Dr. Gillespie, Director of the Child Guidance Clinic,
writes:-
" There has been a slight increase in the number
of children referred in the Forest and Chingford
areas, but fewer were referred from the Walthamstow
area. A substantial increase has also been noted in
the number of children under five, referred during
the year from all areas. This again is a source of
great satisfaction to me as I am convinced of the
need to deal with emotional disturbances in young
children at an early stage.
The waiting list has greatly diminished as
compared with last year's figures, and follows on
more children being seen in diagnostic consultation.
Our hopes of providing an improved service for the
Walthamstow, Chingford and Forest divisions have been
fulfilled as we no longer have to deal with children
from the Leyton area.
Miss E. M. Goldberg of the National Institute for
Social Work Training, who was engaged on a study of
case work, consulted our clinic as a source of material
for her survey.
Miss Laquer was given the opportunity by the local
authority to attend a refresher course on "Psychiatric
Social Work: Developments in Training and Practice",.
which she found very profitable and stimulating.
In conclusion, I would like to make a strong plea
for tire establishment of an extended nursery school
service in our areas, especially in the Forest division
which has so far not been able to have one. Nursery
schools provide an important adjunct in the promotion
of mental health in children and their young mothers" .
Shortage of specialist staff does hamper the work of prevention
and treatment, thus, of the ten play therapy sessions authorised
it has been possible to staff only two. and other commitments have
prevented health visitors from taking full advantage of opportunities
to attend case conferences and similar meetings as a means
of extending their understanding of psychiatric problems. Full
liaison is maintained, however, between the workers in individual
cases as for example the probation officers.