The Maladjusted Child and Child Guidance Clinics

The Report should put fresh heart into the staff of child guidance c'inics as it is the first official document to set out their principles and ^fpport extensions of their work such as have long been advocated by the N-A.M.H. The need for the basic team of child psychiatrist, educational Psychologist and psychiatric social worker with special training for their lunction, is established and the need for the services of non-medical child Psychotherapists is recognized amongst the additional staff. The Report states that clinics should be open to children of all ages up to the age of 18, ^hether at school or not, and parents should have direct access to clinics. Many a lonely worker who has been hampered in undertaking preventive ^?rk by red tape, will rejoice at this charter. It is to be hoped that it will be studied by every member of the Education Committees throughout the Country. The clinic is seen as part of a comprehensive child guidance service which also includes a school psychological service and the school health service. Close links are suggested with child welfare centres and if this scheme was satisfactorily implemented, from infancy to the age of 18, child guidance would be available for all children. Prevention of maladjustment would be the first object, but where trouble arises, special educational treatment is offered with a wide variety of facilities and the utmost flexibility. Since it has so far proved impossible to arrive at a widely agreed list ?' diagnostic terms for child guidance clinics, as there is no general Agreement as to causation, evaluation of psychological factors or treatment, ^ ls not to be expected that the chapter on "The Nature, Symptoms and Causes of Maladjustment" will be unanimously accepted. It may be found Useful to have a clear exposition of a point of view, and certainly those who disagree should attempt to set out their own theory and practice. It is suggested that in carrying out its duty of discovering which pupils are Maladjusted and require special educational treatment, it would be aPpropriate for the Local Education Authority to secure reports from a child guidance clinic and the clinic should also be responsible for recommendations for admission and discharge of maladjusted children sent to day or residential schools or hostels. This brief review must exclude the important sections on training of staffs, nor can it deal with the recommendations as …