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The child-minders who are statutorily registered under the Act are persons—other
than relatives—who, during the day look after, for reward, more than two children
under the age of five years from different households. Women who look after one or
two children may voluntarily register with the Council, receiving a weekly registration
fee in return for which they are subject to inspection.
Children neglected or ill-treated in their own homes
Reference was made in the 1952 Annual Report to experimental conferences which
had been held in two health divisions and during 1953 similar conferences were held in
the remaining divisions. Representatives of interested Council departments and of other
statutory and voluntary bodies concerned with the welfare of the family were invited
to these conferences, endeavours being made to bring in everyone who might be helped
by, or might be able to help in, a concerted effort to assist the children and families
concerned. In each division, a directory of organisations undertaking social casework
for children was circulated to all statutory and voluntary bodies in the area. This directory
was planned to draw attention to, and include details of, the variety of resources available
from national, county and local efforts and to show how they link up with the Council's
divisional services. An index has been started in each health division to provide a ready
reference to problem families notified from a variety of sources and this enabled those
assisting the same family to be informed of each other's interests and so to co-ordinate
their efforts.
In a number of divisions, standing committees were set up which included divisional
representatives of the four official departments concerned (public health, education,
children's, welfare) with the co-option of other officers and representatives of voluntary
organisations, as necessary, including the N.S.P.C.C. Meetings were informal and their
frequency varied from division to division. In some divisions, the standing committee
considered matters of general principle only, while in others it dealt with selected
casework as well. In divisions where there was no standing committee ad hoc conferences
of officers to consider particular cases were held as and when necessary.
Medical supervision at residential establishments for children
The Public Health Department continued to supervise the health of children in the
Council's residential establishments and for this purpose frequent visits were made by
members of the central medical and nursing staff.
The children in residential nurseries and in nursery schools were under the medical
care of the visiting medical officer who saw them on admission and discharge and at
other times when necessary. In addition, routine medical examinations and immunisations
were carried out. Close co-operation was maintained with the visiting medical
officers and also with the Children's Officer.
During the year, heavy outbreaks of influenza, measles and whooping cough
occurred at many residential establishments. There were also epidemics of sonne
dysentery at four of the nurseries and small outbreaks of jaundice at five. Cases of anterior
poliomyelitis occurred at three homes. In one there were four cases between 9th June, and
9th July. Two members of the staff (with considerable residual paralysis in one case), and
two children (of whom one died) were affected. There was a further non-paralytic
case in a member of the staff ten weeks later. Two other homes had one isolated case
each, both being members of the staff, one of whom had severe residual paralysis.
In all these outbreaks staff from the Public Health department advised on methods of
prevention, diagnosis, control and nursing care.
Members of the central medical staff advised the Children's Department on the
suitability or otherwise of private nurseries offering vacancies to the Council and a list
was kept of homes approved for children of various ages. They also advised on the
planning and adaptation of new nurseries: for this purpose ten houses were visited during
the year.