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CHILD GUIDANCE SERVICE.
The Medical Directors of the Child Guidance Clinics, Dr. Robin Higgins, M.A.,
M.B., B.Chir., D.P.M., and Dr. Agnes Main, M.B., B.S., report as follows: —
Dr. Robin Higgins —
The basic pattern of work was not markedly different from that reported last
year: —
CASE LOAD
New Cases
Referred 67
Seen 43
*Current Cases
In regular or intensive treatment 31
On supervision 45
Cases Closed 64
*monthly average.
The increase of cases in regular or intensive treatment resulted from the welcome
addition of a psychotherapist who divides her time between the two clinics.
The return of a psychiatric social worker from a year's stay in the U.S.A. was
also very welcome and stimulated a fuller development of the Clinic's work into the
area of adolescence, particularly around the turbulent point of leaving school. An
initial report of this work is now under active consideration and future thoughts
include :
1. Assisting interested agencies to extend their own work by providing the
opportunity for consultation.
2. Introducing a specialist worker into a social agency.
3. Setting up a counselling service with premises of its own — away from a
Clinic conventionally seen as for Child Guidance.
Another growing point stems from the work of the art therapist and it is hoped
to be able to organise an exhibition of some of the statements children are currently
making about themselves here in paint and clay.
Dr. Agnes Main —
During the past year, the numbers of children referred to the Child Guidance
Clinic have been 134, and re-referrals 12. The main bulk of our referrals come from
Head Teachers, and the remainder from general practitioners, parents, Children's
Department, Probation Officers, and rarely, direct from the child concerned. This last
type is, of course, confined entirely to the adolescent group.
Our links with the Maria Grey; College and the Institute of Education continue
and remedial teachers in training give valuable help to those of less severely disturbed
children whose difficulties lie mainly in school and with learning.
We are always in close touch with Oldfield House Day School for Maladjusted
Children and with Athelstan House, our Unit for Autistic Children. We look forward
to increasing numbers at Oldfield with the opening of the new building. At Athelstan
House this year, the provision of an additional full-time and one part-time teacher has
enabled us to increase the number of pupils to ten. Applications for places still come
in and we now have ten children on the waiting list.
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