CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC (CGC)

CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC (CGC): * * *

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(Plans for expansion and staff turnover rate): **

2.

Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta asked the Minister for Health (a) whether there are plans to expand the Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) in the near future as there is an increasing trend in the number of children and youths seeking its services; (b) as work in the CGC can be time consuming and labour intensive, what is the staff turnover rate; and (c) what measures are in place to prevent staff burnout.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) operates the Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) at two locations: IMH and the Health Promotion Board. The Clinic provides clinical specialist services to children with mental health problems.

We are expanding the Clinic to meet the rising demand. Last month, we increased the number of consultation rooms from 33 to 45. In parallel, the clinic staff has increased to 59. We will continue to match our capacity to demand.

But not all the patients need to be served at the CGC. Indeed, children with mild problems are best supported and cared for in the community. MOH is piloting the Response, Early Intervention and Assessment in Community Mental Health (REACH) programme, to train and support school counsellors and General Practitioners in identifying and managing students with emotional and behavioural problems. The aim is to extend the programme nationwide in due course.

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The staff turnover rate was manageable, at 8% (2007). IMH has a strong culture of peer sharing and support. It actively trains the staff to cope with stresses and problems encountered at work. Rotating staff between the Clinic and the wards also helps to hone their skills in a variety of care settings, besides reducing staff burnout.

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