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the problems of the unmarried mother who wished to keep her baby. The importance of
early booking of accommodation at the homes as well as the need for ante-natal care to
begin early in pregnancy was stressed. It was suggested that moral welfare workers
should arrange the mother's first visit to the hospital where she would be confined at the
time of the booking visit to the mother and baby home; the first visit to hospital should
not be delayed until the girl entered the home as a resident. Association representatives
were advised that a less rigid pattern than a stay of six weeks before and six weeks after
confinement would enable the actual needs of individual mothers to be met to a greater
extent. There was general agreement that finding suitable accommodation was the greatest
problem for the mother who wished to keep her child. Skilful advice, confidence in herself
and adequate financial provision were also very important factors for such mothers.
Child protection
During 1963, child protection work under Part I of the Children Act, 1958 and Part IV
of the Adoption Act, 1958 continued to be undertaken on behalf of the Children's Officer
in six of the health divisions, the visits being made mainly by health visitors. Arrangements
were made, however, for direct control of the work in division 4 to be taken over by the
Children's Officer on 1 January, 1964. In the divisions where the work remained with the
public health department, the number of children being supervised on 31 March, 1964
was 436. This compares with totals of 541 (seven divisions) in 1961, 487 and 516 (six
divisions) in 1962 and 1963 respectively.
Marriage guidance
Grants totalling £9,500 for the year ending 31 March, 1963 were made to the London
Marriage Guidance Council, the Catholic Marriage Advisory Council and the Family
Discussion Bureau.
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