[Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Derby County Borough.

  • Derby (England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1947
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1947] / Medical Officer of Health, Derby County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    35/96 (page 33)
    CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC. Report by the Psy(’holoc;i.st—Miss E. S. Brouohton. 'I'he year 1947 was again marked in the Child Guidance Clinic by shortage ol and changes of staff. The number of cases referred remains at the usual level, which is far lower than it should be, considering the children found to need attention when schools are visited. The lack of a Psychiatrist during the whole year was a great handicap. It means that much more time must he spent by the Psychologist on diagnosis, and, as there was no Social Worker after June, the balance of treatment, home interviews, testing, school visits and follow-up has meant a heavy ])rogramme. Miss B. Smith, B.A., the Social Worker, left ii\ ,Iunc, and Miss E. S.’ Broughton, M.A., began work here as Educational Psychologist in April, after having spent January— March in Leicester Education Committee Child Guidance Service under Dr. Agatha Bowley. • Social work, parental guidance and psychological work with the parents are most important if the treatment of children is to be effective. We have therefore treated only the cases referred (without propaganda visits) and tried to do immediate follow-up work of cases on observation. Without this, we feel that the basic treatment is wasted. The number of children taken for play therapy has also had to be decreased as the accommodation is inadequate for group play. The length of treatment has been cut down, but parents are always urged to make contact again if they feel the need for further help. This method is the only one available at the moment. It avoids a long waiting list and ensures immediate help to urgent cases. Close co-operation is maintained with the Speech Therapist, and it is gratifying to find that Social and School Welfare and Probation Officers are taking an increased interest in the Clinic. Dr. Bryan, the Derbyshire County Child Psychiatrist, has given advice on a few ilifficult cases. For this wo are very grateful, but, owing to Dr. Bryan’s already long list of patients, it can never be a substitute for our own ])sychiatric medical service, whose diagnostic advice should be available from week to week. There is a wide field of work in the schools, as over 20% of our cases concern problems of backwardness. There is a crying need for special classes for all ages and for further accommodation for children of sub-normal intelligence level. Miss R. Radford, B.A., has had singular success with the few children she can take for remedial teaching. This method, if it could be extended, would amply repay the Education Committee for any expense involved. I.^rogress in educational attainment is often the only means of helping the child to adjust to a more normal personality. Students from Derby Training College, Nottingham University, Social Welfare Department, and the Roehampton Froebel Institute have visited the Child Guidance Clinic.