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117
extent by the Greenwich Society for Mentally Handicapped Children,
and supported financially by Greenwich Council.
A direct interest is taken by the department in the work of the
creche and the services of a Medical Officer and one of its Social
Workers are made available to the group. The resultant coordination
of care and interest between the Society and the
Department is invaluable to the development of the child and wellbeing
of the whole family.
Many young physically handicapped children urgently require
a similar service. Only a very small number of the less severely
handicapped can be helped in "play groups" and ordinary nursery
schools and nursery classes. It is anticipated that, eventually, the
Education Services will be able to help with the establishment of
nursery classes in schools for the physically handicapped. Such
classes could act as assessment centres so that children could be
observed and at the age of 5 years, if found to have a minimal
handicap, they could be transferred to suitable ordinary primary
school.
Occasional Creche Service
Occasional creches are held at three Child Health centres and
these have proved to be very worthwhile. They are held once a
week (one centre has two creches, each held weekly) where children
under five years are cared for while their mothers attend sessions
at the centre, keep hospital appointments, or go shopping on their
own. The nominal charge is abated when necessary, and no charge
is made to any mother who uses the service when attending hospital.
Adoption, Foster Parents and Boarding Out
Adoption
One of the most serious social problems of the country today
(although happily of no great moment in this Borough at present)
is the difficulty experienced in the assimilation into society of
coloured immigrants in order that hostility and discrimination may
be avoided.
A corollary to this situation, which is becoming progressively
more important, is that of the settlement of children of differing
racial origins who, for various reasons, are deprived of a family life.
Responsibility, generally, for the placement of these children rests
with Adoption Societies and with Children's Departments and, for
most adopters, there is an obligation, under Section 3 of the
Adoption Act, 1958, to notify the local authority of their intention
to adopt.
Health Visitors are often in close contact with such children and
in some instances their records are of considerable value to the
Medical Officer when his observations are sought by the various
agencies concerned with adoption.