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SERVICES TRANSFERRED TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT
The Local Authority Social Services Act, 1970, drew a dividing line distinguishing
between medical or social need through the personal health services formerly administered
as a cohesive group under the National Health Service Acts, 1946/68. Staff responsible for
the administration of the transferable services, and their associated staffing and financial
aspects were all affected to some extent and there were very few whose duties were wholly
on one side or the other of the statutory division.
It was accordingly necessary before the appointed day, 1st April, 1971, to retrain
staff and agree a phased programme for transferring administrative functions and the release
of officers being transferred to the Social Services Department whilst continuing to
administer services on a caretaker basis, in one case until 1st September, 1971.
PRIVATE DAY CARE OF CHILDREN
The registration and supervision of Private Day Nurseries and Child-Minders under
the Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948 (as amended) was transferred on 19th
April, 1971. This included the comparatively new scheme for subsidising the payment of
fees in respect of selected children placed in private care. At the time of transfer 54 premises
were registered as private day nurseries with a total of 1,087 approved places and 115
persons as child-minders authorised to care for 268 children; subsidised placements
consisted of eight children with child-minders and one in a private day nursery.
Legal proceedings to close an unsatisfactory day nursery continued; an Appeal Court
decision on 10th February, 1971, upheld an Order made by the Council cancelling
registration and rendered the cancellation effective from that date but further proceedings
were necessary to effect closure in June, 1971. A Principal Medical Officer and a Senior
Administrative Officer of the Health Department, who had been witnesses for the
prosecution throughout the proceedings, continued to be concerned until later in the year,
when the likelihood of their being called upon to give further evidence ceased.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
These services administered by the Health Department prior to 1st April, 1971, were
subject to the transfer to the Inner London Education Authority on that date of the
Kensington Junior Training Centre, Wallingford Avenue, W.10., which included the Special
Care Unit for severely sub-normal children with multiple handicaps opened at the end of the
previous year. The transfer effected under the Education (Handicapped Children) Act,
1970, resulted in junior training centres for the severely sub-normal children becoming an
education authority responsibility and being designated as special schools. This Centre
became the Dame Evelyn Fox School and the Health Department's only remaining
responsibility was in respect of school health services.
The Adult Training and Day Centre, 1-9 St. Mark's Road, W.11., was transferred to
the Social Services Department on 17th May, 1971, as were functions relating to emergency
admissions to hospital, residential and community care with the associated general
administrative functions on 1st June, 1971. The number of patients affected by this transfer
of responsibilities was in the region of 1,300.
The Health Authority continues to be responsible for the approval of Medical
Practitioners who may be required to give medical certificates of mental illness.
HOME HELP SERVICE
This service was transferred on 7th June, 1971. The number of staff involved was
the largest of any of the services affected and consisted of approximately 140 persons
actively engaged in giving service to over 1,100 households.