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offer advice, guidance and assistance it it would diminish the need to
bring the child before the Court Any worker in a Voluntary Organisation,
or member of the public, who has reason to believe that a child is in need
of care, protection, or control, should get in touch with the Children's
Officer without delay.
Children Beyond Control
The Children's Officer is responsible for investigating the circumstances
of all children alleged to be beyond the control of their parents, arranges
for voluntary advice,guidance, and supervision in suitable instances and, if
necessary, arranges for the children to be brought before the Juvenile Court.
Medical Arrangements
(a) Before a child is boarded-out a full medical examination is undertaken,
and the report is submitted to the Medical Officer of Health for
approval that the child is fit to be boarded-out under the Regulations.
(b) Medical Examinations during the boarding-out A child boarded-out
must be examined by a duly qualified medical practitioner
(i) within one month after being boarded-out, unless the child has
attained the age of 2 years, and has been medically examined within
three months before being boarded-out, and
(ii) at least once in every six months if he has not attained the age of
two years, or at least once a year if he has attained that age.
The reports of subsequent medical examinations are not seen by a Medical
Officer in the normal course of events, and would only be referred to the
Medical Officer of Health if the Senior Child Care Officer and Child Care
Officer who receive the report were concerned about any matters affecting
the child
(c) Apart from these statutory requirements for medical examination and
report, it is the duty of the local authority to ensure that adequate arrangements
are made for a child boarded-out to receive medical and dental attention
as required. This is dealt with by the Child Care Officer who, on her visit,
would comment on the child's health, and be assured that in fact adequate
arrangements had been made. This generally means that the child is registered
with the same doctor as the foster parents, and there is usually no difficulty.
Child Protection - Children Act, 1958
There is no statutory requirement that a child should be medically examined
on being placed with a private foster parent, but again it would be the
responsibility of the visiting Child Care Officer to be assured, so far as was
reasonable, that the child was being well-treated, and to advise if any medical
attention appeared to be necessary
There is the additional medical supervision given to all children under
five by the Health Visitor under the Public Health Act, and this is followed
by medical surveillance provided by the School Health Service-
Hamnersmi th Homes
The Administration of Children's Homes Regulations, 1951, provide thatthe
Medical Officer appointed shall supervise the compilation of a medical
record for each child accommodated in a Home and that this shall contain
particulars of the medical history of the child before admission, so far
as it is known; his physical and mental condition on admission; his medical
history while accommodated in the home; and his condition on discharge from
the home. A card is used for this information and is normally kept up to
date by the Houseparent-in-Charge.
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