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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 educational
background.
6. The Babies
i) Eligibility:
Ba bies placed for adoption must be born in the Borough or be the chi Id 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, 196$ would have been received into care ot
supported under Section ^Children & Young Persons Act, 1963, had we not functioned
as an Adoption Agency.
il) 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 S ervice.
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, 1968, we placed for adoption 12 children in care and 10
direct.
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 fotunate in enlisting the interest and co-operation
of Professor Tizard, the Head of Department of Child Health at Hammersmith 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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