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In this context it should be remembered that when referrals to the Child Guidance Service are for
emotional or behavioural difficulties, permission of the parents is first obtained. In the case of referral for
educational difficulties this is not absolutely essential, although still desirable, since the Educational Psychologist
can be regarded as a supernumerary teacher seeing the child in school. This ruling, of course, presents
some difficulties to the schools since it is often the most unruly, behaviourally acting out children where parental
co-operation is not forthcoming. Sometimes a threat of exclusion from school is the only course of action.
Table 3 shows the reasons for referral to the Child Guidance Centres. About two-thirds are referred
for behaviour disorders and anti-social conduct No doubt most of these are correct referrals for psychiatric
investigation, although it means that only a third are referred because of the more withdrawn type of behaviour
such as habit or nervous disorders. These latter cases do not make life as difficult for the teachers and parents
as do the behaviour disorder group, and for this very reason are often overlooked. One case can exemplify
this situation. A child was referred by a General Practitioner for general anxiety and the headteacher was asked
for a school report, which is the normal procedure if the parents give their permission. The school were
indignant that the child had ever been referred, writing "Mary is a perfectly normal little girl who needs no
treatment at all". In fact, the psychiatrist considered that "she certainly seems sufficiently emotionally unsettled
to be in need of individual psychotherapy."
Quite clearly referral to the psychologist or psychiatrist should not be used as a threat, or as a reason
for derision ("He's a case!") but for cogent reasons, just as referrals are made to a doctor or a dentist.
Staff and Premises
During the year the Kingsbury Centre took over the ground floor of the premises in Church Lane,
formerly housing a Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic. This now means that accommodation for the Service
in the North of the Borough is adequate. The Kilburn Centre, however, is not large enough for the staff,
and its condition and situation leave much to be desired, The Education Committee's proposal, after submission
of the 1970 Child Guidance Service Annual Report, that the Kilburn Centre be moved to the former
L.C.S. premises in Willesden High Road never materialised. It is hoped that alternative, larger premises will
be forthcoming.
During the year, Miss Braithwaite, Psychiatric Social Worker at the Kingsbury Centre, left after many
years with the Authority, and was replaced by Mr. Brown. The establishment of four Educational Psychologists
was filled throughout the year, athough Dr. Varma had a lengthy sick leave absence. There were
changes amongst the sessional psychotherapists during the year. Miss Stone, Miss Mykura, Mrs. Elkan and
Miss Gehr left the service and Mrs. Hopkins joined the service.
The secretarial staff has undergone some changes, Mrs. Evans was appointed as the full-time secretary
at the Kingsbury Centre, Mrs. Fitch started as part-time secretary at Kilburn, and Mrs. England and Mrs.
Klein left the Service. Mrs. Paling, the senior secretary in the Child Guidance Service, was on sick leave for
the last quarter of the year.
During the year Mr. Graham obtained a Doctorate of Philosophy Degree from London University
and was also elected a Fellow of the British Psychological Society.
The recommendation of the Education Committee, after submission of the 1970 Annual Report,
that the establishment of staff be increased, is to be implemented in 1972, so that the Educational Psychologist
establishment will be increased from 4.1 to 6 and the P.S.W's from 4½ to 5.
Exclusions from School
The number of formal exclusions from school remains at about the same level as last year, i.e. about
35 children. These vary from children aged five in their first term at school to children aged 15 in their
last term a school. Quite half of these are recommended for return to ordinary school. Without doubt they
have all exhibited difficut behaviour in school, but this does not necessarily signify that ascertainment as
maladjusted is called for, or that residential placement is to be considered.
Residential Placement
It is quite surprising how many teachers and social workers consider that residential placement to be
the answer to a social behaviour. So many times the Child Guidance Service gets requests not so much to
investigate the behaviour difficulty but to find a residential setting for the child. It is as though the referral
agent is saying "This child is difficult for us, get rid of him". The Child Guidance Service can ascertain a
child as maladjusted and make a recommendation for a Special Residential School. This would normally be
done if conditions at home are unfavourable and not easily modifiable. The placing of a child in a residential
setting does not necessarily solve the problems of the child, and this procedure is used sparingly. There is, of
course, the added problem of finding suitable residential schools. Brent uses a considerable number of
independent schools for this purpose.
Liaison with Other Agencies
The arrangements whereby School Medical Officers attend a monthly case conference at the Kilburn
Child Guidance Centre continues.
The Staff of the Child Guidance Service have regular monthly conferences at Vernon House and
Barretts Green Day Maladjusted Schools, to discuss the children in the schools and the best ways of treating
them.
Professional trainees, educational psychologists, psychiatric social workers and psychotherapists
continue to use our facilities for giving practical training in their professions.
The establishment of the Social Services Department means that facilities to deal with social problems
will be increased and that those cases involving more social than psychological causation can be passed to one