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The number of foster-mothers increased by 33 during the
year.
Conditions are occasionally found which are not satisfactory,
and there are two or three foster-mothers who do not appear to
appreciate to the full their responsibilities. The chief difficulties
encountered are (a) the action of some foster-mothers in adopting
children, or taking a child's mother into her house and so evading
the Act; (b) a tendency for foster-mothers to try and look
after too many children with insufficient help; (c) where a fostermother
has children of her own to ignore these in her statements
as to the number of foster-children she can look after.
The law relating to foster-children allows of many loopholes
and it cannot be said that it gives adequate powers to local
authorities either in their supervision of the children, or in any
proceedings which can be taken against foster-mothers. The
Act does not require foster-mothers to be registered with the local
authority, but only to notify their intention to take a foster-child.
From time to time persons are found by the Health Visitors
having the care of children for gain who have never notified the
fact to the local authority as is required by the Act. Ignorance
is always pleaded as the excuse. Again it would seem that all
foster-children are taken under emergency action because it is the
exception rather than the rule to receive the 7 days' notice required
under the Children Act, 1932; 48 hours or less, or even after the
reception of the child, is the most usual intimation. Unsuitable
persons are taking foster-children, but effective action cannot be
taken under the powers conferred on local authorities. There is
urgent need for the legal position to be clarified and strengthened.
The Health Visitors paid 2,808 visits to foster-mothers for the
Purpose of supervision