View report page

CHILDREN'S SERVICES.
Introduction
The Children's Service of the local authority is regarded as one of the Council's most
important functions. Heavy responsibilities fall on all its officers as their day-to-day decisions
may have a lasting effect on the well-being of the child with whom they are dealing. The conduct
of a Children's Service presents special difficulties in Inner London. Fox example, it is
difficult to obtain foster parents for children in or near the Borough, voluntary homes are very
often in the Home Counties, and the supervision of children in care involves child care staff
in an undue amount of travelling.
The Children Act, 1948, makes it the duty of a local authority such as the London Borough
of Hammersmith "To receive into its care any child in its area under the age of 17 years whose
parents or guardian are temporarily or permanently prevented from providing for him properly"
and, having received a child into its care, "To exercise their powers with respect to him so as
to further his best interests and to afford him opportunity for the proper development of his
character". In other words, the Council must take over for short or long periods the care of
children deprived of a normal home life, provide a substitute home life for them, and in general
act as a good parent to them whilst they are in care.
Some 646 children are in the care of the London Borough of Hammersmith at present.
During the period 1st April — 31st December, 1965,1167 applications were made to the Council's
Children's Officer for children to be received into care for a large variety of reasons. That the
number actually received into care was only 646 is an index of the intensive casework by the
Children's Officer and by her child care staff. It also highlights one aspect of the important
preventive powers contained in Section I of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1963.
Although a number of children are in care for quite short periods 90% are long stay cases.
Children go out of care automatically at 18 years, though in certain circumstances help may be
given beyond that age. Intensive casework is, of course, also required to ensure that a child
goes out of care as soon as circumstances permit.
General
The Children's Service provides for the care and upbringing of children who have no
parents, or whose parents cannot look after them properly, or who are committed by the Juvenile
Courts to the care of the Council as "Fit person", or by other Courts in cases of matrimonial
dispute. Further functions of the Service are the finding and supervision of foster homes for
children in care; a wide range of adoption duties; the protection of children placed for reward
apart from their parents; and certain duties concerning children committed to approved schools.
A preventive service is provided under Section 1, Children and Young Persons Act, 1963,
which makes it a duty to make available such advice, guidance and assistance as may promote
the welfare of children by diminishing the need for them to come into care or remain in care, or
appear before the Juvenile Court. The advice, guidance and assistance may include assistance
in kind or, in exceptional circumstances, in cash.
III-treatment or Neglect of Children
It is the statutory duty of the Children's Officer under Section 62, Children and Young
Persons Act, 1933 (as amended), on receipt of information suggesting that any child may be in
need of care, protection or control (a) to cause enquiries to be made into the case, unless satisfied
that such enquiries are unnecessary, and (b) to bring before the Juvenile Court any child
who appears to be in need of care, protection or control unless satisfied that the taking of proceedings
is undesirable in his interests, or that proceedings are about to be taken by some other
person. The Health, Welfare, Housing and Education Departments notify the Children's Officer
promptly of instances where children are, or are likely to become, in need of care, protection or
control (i.e. children who are not receiving proper care, protection and guidance and are falling
into bad associations or who are exposed to moral danger; or are likely as a result to suffer, or
whose health or proper development are likely to be seriously affected; or children who are
(66)