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is carrying out a survey of the methods of
physical and mental assessment in this
country also spent a morning at the unit
Child Guidance Clinic
I am grateful to Dr Calwell MB BS DPM for
submitting the following information.
During the first two months of 1970 we
were preparing to move to our new premises
in Bath Road.
On 5th March 1970 we moved to the new
building and this occurred with a minimum
of disorganisation of the work of the clinic
as much planning had taken place There was
for a short time a separation from the school
psychological service which fortunately did
not persist Thanks to the co operation between
the health and education departments it was
arranged that new rooms were made available
enabling resumption of the close liaison
between the school psychological service and
the clinic. The brief separation has proved
how difficult it was for the clinic to function
effectively as a team from separate bases.
In many wavs we have appreciated and
enjoved our fine new rooms and buildings In
particular the provision of a comfortable staff
conference room and excellent psychotherapy
rooms have been most welcome.
The situation of the new clinic above the
Familv Doctor Unit has enabled unusually
close co operation with local general
practitioners.
During the year we regrettably lost several
members of our staff First Mr Barnett was
promoted to senior research officer educa
tional guidance project National Foundation
for Educational Research We were sorry to
lose the services of Mrs G Henry psycho
therapist who left to have a daughter but we
are delighted that at last we were able to fill
our increased establishment of psychotherapists
through the appointment of three new psycho
therapists Mrs Oxford Miss Rankin and Miss
Hodgson all of whom we are very pleased to
welcome We lost the services of Miss Ison
who left to serve in the social service depart
ment of the RAF in Cyprus She had been at
the clinic for two years and has been greatly
missed.
Staff from the children s department
continue to attend regular weekly seminars
Cases of special difficulty were discussed as
well as general problems Additionally the
children s department has been able to refer
cases directly to Dr Calwell who has carried
out a series of diagnostic interviews which
have in fact taken up the majority of his clinic
sessions Dr Brafman has worked mainly with
the clinic staff and general referrals to the
clinic We were most disappointed that the
chronic shortage of psychiatric time was not
relieved by the provision of extra sessions by
the Regional Hospital Board.
We seem to be having increased demands for
talks On two occasions the clinic entertained
officers from two probation departments to a
discussion during the lunch hour Dr Calwell
conducted two tutorials for students reading for
the Diploma in Child Health and Mrs Lees has
given talks to the health visitors students
from Isleworth Polvtechnic matron housekeepers
students of Applied Social Studies from Chiswick
Polytechnic Reading University social workers
school counsellors- to student teachers from
St Mary s College Twickenham with Mrs Pears
and to supervisors of play groups Some of these
groups also attended clinic conferences Mrs Lees
also has a student school counsellor from Reading
who attends the clinic once a week Two other
counsellors under training also spent a three
week period with the child guidance clinic.
At our inter clinic meeting Dr Brafman led
a discussion on Hopeless Cases.
Mrs Lees started a group for the mothers of
children at the autistic unit.
The staff meetings of the group on persistent
non attendance (P N A groups) met child care
officers and education welfare officers at the
clinic to discuss their most difficult cases
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