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Child Guidance Clinic
I am grateful to Dr P Calwell MB BS DPM for
submitting the following information:—
'The pressure on the clinic of increasing referrals
mounted steadily, as can be seen not only by the
number of cases waiting for a first appointment,
which more than doubled since the previous year,
but also by the fact that 124 children were
awaiting psychiatric diagnostic appointments on
31st December 1967. This meant that the
psychiatrist was no longer able to see all the
cases referred. There were also considerable delays
for the initial appointment with the psychiatric
social workers, even when they recognised the
need for urgency.
'In an attempt to improve this situation the
London Borough of Hounslow has employed me
for two extra weekly sessions since April 1967.
These sessions have been used not only as
an opportunity to see new cases, but as an
opportunity to work more closely with the
children's department, who play a considerable
part with other social agencies in dealing with
disturbed maladjusted children throughout the
borough. One diagnostic interview each week has
been set aside for consultation with the children
whose parents are being seen by a member of
another social agency, such as the children's
department. Mrs Lees, psychiatric social worker,
and I hold a weekly seminar at the clinic for the
staff of the children's department. There have also
been increasing requests for Court reports and for
co-operation with the Probation Service.
'Throughout the year the vacancy for a third
psychiatric social worker was not filled, but we
have been greatly helped by the increased liaison
between the clinic and social workers outside.
'Mrs Lees continued to attend meetings of the
working party on persistent non-attendance as well
as regular meetings with the children's department.
She also undertook to discuss individual cases
with social workers outside the clinic, and
supervised a student from Reading University.
'We were glad to welcome Mrs Dunne and
Mrs Pears to the clinic as educational
psychologists, and Mrs Clements as part-time
psycho-therapist.
'The presence of a new psychologist
strengthened the clinic team. As the team
becomes larger and the improved facilities which
the clinic can offer became known the demands
made on the clinic's services also grow.
'The clinic continued to work in close
co-operation with Busch House School. At the
same time as there was a rise in placements of
maladjusted children at Busch House there was a
fall in the number referred to residential schools.
In this way the children have been kept in
contact with home backgrounds. The result of this
was to put a further burden on the clinic resources
in order to provide an improved service.'
Analysis of cases referred to the child guidance
clinic 1967
New cases waiting for an appointment at
31.12.66 33
New cases waiting for an appointment at
31.12.67 78
New referrals in 1967 243
New cases seen by psychiatric social workers 101
New cases seen by psychiatrist 124
Source of referrals
Educational psychologist or school 77
School medical officers 67
Parents 41
General practitioners 11
Transfers from other clinics, etc. 8
Children's department 19
Probation officers 6
Others 14
Senior Psychologist for Special Units and
Special Schools
I am grateful to Dr Moya C Tyson BA BSc
(Econ) PhD for submitting the following report
and the account of her visit to USA as a Churchill
Fellow:—
45