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It is regrettable that the Psychiatric Social Worker found it necessary to reduce her
home visiting so drastically. The information derived from home visiting is so valuable in
the assessment of child difficulties that it is hoped to give this aspect of the Psychiatric
Social Worker's activities greater priority in the future.
There was a welcome increase in. the number of young children referred during the year.
In previous Annual Reports, the opinion was expressed that the children of the under five
age group usually responded quickly and favourably to treatment. It was also noted that the
parents of this group were relatively accessible to psychotherapeutic advice because they
had not beeome set in their attitudes to their children. Experience continues to support
both these observations.
Although backwardness is listed as the commonest reason for referral, the distribution
of intelligence among the children seen at the clinic is only on & slightly lower level than
that of the general population. It appears then, that backwardness occurs as a symptom of
conditions other than intellectual inadequacey. In practice this view was well borne out.
There were many cases in which emotional difficulties were found seriously to interfere with
the learning process. When the emotional difficulties were resolved, these children began to
learn up to their real ability. There were also numbers of children who had special disabilities
(usually developmental in origin) of perception or expression which although not
associated with global intellectual defect, caused varying degrees of educational failure.
These cases required very careful testing and assessment by the Educational Psychologist.
On the basis of her findings, it was usually possible to prescribe appropriate remedial
coaching and establish the learning process at its otimum rate.
Visitors to the clinic included the Chief Education Officer, a number of head teachers,
probation officers and health visitors. As in previous years, a group of doctors studying for
the Diploma in Public Health, came to study child guidance methods. A number of Paediatricians
in training came with like purpose. One Paediatrician, a Turkish graduate, who was on a study
tour in this country, came on many occasions and took particular interest in treatment
technique. The Chief Assistant School Medical Officer also visited with a doctor from
Pakistan who was keenly Interested in child guidance. A Psychiatric Registrar, who intends
making child psychiatry his special study, began regular training here in the early part of
the year. The Conjoint Board of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, approved of
this clinic for the purpose of providing Child Guidance Training for their Diploma in
Psychological Medicine.
Although no statistically valid conclusions could be drawn from the follow-up study,
it proved of value In a number of unexpected ways, and gave a general fillip to the work of
the clinic. Both therapeutic optimism and pessimism were checked by it and the clinic staff
were given many reminders, if such were needed, of the unpredictable nature of maturation
processes. In the light of the experience gained, It seems inexpedient to omit regular
follow-up studies from routine clinic practice.
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
ASCERTAINMENT. The arrangements for ascertainment remained unchanged throughout the
year. The Regulations governing handicapped pupils made eight years ago were replaced in
August, 1953, by the School Health Service and Handicapped Pupils Regulations, 1953. The new
Regulations Incorporate certain changes which have been found desirable as a result of the
experience gained In working the old Regulations and of suggestions made during the discussions
of the Education Sub-Committee of the Local Government Manpower Committee,
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