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179
Conditions are occasionally found which are not satisfactory.
The chief difficulties encountered are (a) the action of some fostermothers
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 foster-mother has children of her own to ignore these
in her statements as to the number of foster-children she can look
after.
The Public Health Act, 1936, Part VII., has not effected any
improvement in the unsatisfactory state of the law relating to
foster-children. It does not give 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 in the case of
foster-children taken for the first time; 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 2,616 visits to foster-mothers for the
purpose of supervision.