View report page

50
Child Life Protection.
This is governed by Part XIII of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
The duties comprise the supervision of the health and well-being of all children who
are under the care of foster mothers until such children reach the age of nine years. A register
of foster mothers must be kept with a list of children under their care, and the Local Authority
may fix a maximum number of nurse-infants who may be kept in any dwelling. Records must
also be kept with regard to removals, deaths, offences against the Act, etc. When premises
are registered for the first time, a report should be obtained as regards suitability and sanitary
condition. The District Sanitary Inspectors inspect and report on the condition of the
homes for registration purposes, the clerical staff of the Public Health Department keep the
necessary records, and the Health Visitors at the various Welfare Centres carry out the duties
of inspecting and supervising the homes, the health and well-being of the children, giving any
necessary advice, and reporting contraventions of the Acts.
During the course of the year 15 women notified their intention to accept foster children,
and these notifications were in respect of 26 children under 9 years of age received during the
year, the number at the end of the year being 19.
All the Council's Health Visitors are also designated Infant Life Protection Visitors,
and in the course of supervision they paid 418 visits.
One woman was prosecuted under Section 257 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
for accepting a foster child without prior notification to this authority, and was fined £1 with
£1 Is. costs.
Daily Guardians.
At the end of the year there were 8 persons having the care of children under this scheme,
and the total number of visits made by the Council's Health Visitors during the year was
64.
Care of Illegitimate Children.
A block grant of £217 was paid to the Standing Joint Committee in respect of five
voluntary societies who make arrangements for the care of the unmarried mother and her
child. In no case was the Council asked to make a contribution towards the cost of caring for
an illegitimate child placed with a foster mother in the district.
Day Nurseries.
There are eight day nurseries in the borough, controlled by the Council. The full cost
during 1946 was borne by the Ministry of Health. The following table sets out the nurseries
and the accommodation provided at each:—
Day Nursery Accommodation
Margaret Day Nursery, 42, Phoenix Road, N.W.I 70
254-256, Camden Road, N.W.I 85
Foundling Site Day Nursery, 40, Brunswick Square, W.C.I 54
108, Hampstead Road, N.W.I 80
Kentish Town Day Nursery, 27, Gospel Oak Grove, N.W.5 55
Peckwater Street Day Nursery, Kentish Town, N.W.5 70
South Highgate Day Nursery, Chester Road, N.19 45
Regent's Park Day Nursery, 4, Prince Albert Road, N.W.I 52