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- 115 -
The woman who was again pregnant, was determined to get rid of
the child, and had booked in at a hospital under an assumed name,
in order to abandon the child directly after birth.
The woman was induced to accept temporary accommodation. After
considerable case work, the two younger children were taken out of
care. The seventh child was born, a female, and this, through the
added security was accepted by the family. The three elder boys
were introduced from care and joined the family in rotation. The
family were trained to work as a unit, the added security helped and
the whole family appeared to make daily progress. They eventually
became a united family reasonably free from trouble and paying their
way.
They were rehoused in a flat near a London common, an ideal place
for the children. The flat has been visited and is very well decorated
and maintained by the mother. The children are happy, very well cared
for, and the family continue to progress.
Mothers and Babies
Provision for unmarried mothers and their children is made under
Section 21(l)(b) of the National Assistance Act, 1948. The majority
are "first baby" cases. The practice is to arrange admission to one
of the homes run by voluntary societies for a suitable period before
and after confinement. The Council pay an agreed weekly charge.
The Council have an arrangement with the London Borough of
Lewisham whereby certain cases, such as emergency, physically handicapped and those in need of greater support, can be sent to their
"Ballantyne" Mother and Baby Home at Lushington Road, S.E.6., which
offers special facilities for such cases.