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During the pre-adoptive period mothers are encouraged to visit their children.
Wherever possible the Adoptions Officer accompanies the mother when she signs her
consent and remains in close contact pending legal adoption. The natural mother is
informed when the Order is made and at that time she is usually given a photograph of
the baby.
5. The Putative Father:
The putative father, if known, is interviewed by the Adoptions Officer to discuss with
him the adoption. He is also asked to furnish details about his health, social and education
background.
6. The Babies
i) Eligibility:
Babies placed for adoption must be born in the Borough or be the child of a mother who
is in the care of the Authority at the time of her confinement. All babies accepted for
direct placement since 1st March 1966 would have been received into care or supported
under Section 1 Children & Young Persons Act, 1963, had we not functioned as an
Adoption Agency.
ii) Procedure:
If the mother is unable to make her own arrangements on her discharge from hospital and
is not in a Mother & Baby Home the child is either received into care or placed by the
mother in a short-term foster home found for her by the Children's Service. Some mothers
are able to pay their own fostering fees, but others are helped partially or entirely with
these under Section 1 of the Children & Young Persons Act, 1963. Efforts are made to
place all healthy babies in foster-homes rather than nurseries.
The task of approving would-be adopters requires high professional skill and is a
lengthy process. There has not been adequate staff to build up a waiting list of adopters
and consequently some of the available babies have had to be received into care.
In the year ended March, 1967, we placed for adoption 23 children in care and six
direct. Of these three were of mixed racial origin, two were Roman Catholic twins with
a severe medical history and only five of these babies were without medical, social, or
legal complications.
iii) Health:
At six weeks of age the baby is examined by a medical practitioner and given serological
tests for V.D. We have been fortunate in enlisting the interest and co-operation of
Professor Tizard, the Head of Department of Child Health at Hamrnersmith Hospital who
will examine any child with medical problems we refer to him and, if necessary treat
him. If suitable adopters are found for a baby with a medical history Professor Tizard
will personally see adopters and explain to them the nature of the problem. Paediatric
consultants at other hospitals where the babies have been treated will also see adopters.
Full medical reports are always sent to the Department and seen by the Deputy Medical
Officer of Health. All medical reports on babies are seen and vetted by her and no baby
is placed without her favourable endorsement on the medical certificate.
7. The Adopters:
i) Applications:
Couples are referred to us by Doctors, Medical Social Workers, Health Visitors, other
Children's Departments or Adoption Societies or other adopters, some answer advertisements
for a particular child and we are now beginning to receive applications for second
children.
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