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The amendment of the Nurseries and Child Minders Regulation Act, 1948, to
which reference has already been made, extended the compulsory registration of
persons who look after children to include those who care for only one or two
children and this meant the end of the Daily Guardian Scheme as such. However,
the Council decided to continue the payment of Daily Guardian fees until 31st
March, 1969. All daily guardians were informed of these changes and advised
that they must apply for registration as child minders if they wished to continue
looking after children.
Children in Care
There are two residential nurseries situated in the borough under the control
of the Children's Department, providing places for 31 children.
By arrangement with the Children's Officer, each child is medically examined
on admission, every three months, and on discharge, by the assistant medical officers.
Dental care and immunisation are also arranged by the Health Department. In the
ordinary way, general practitioners provide general medical services.
Children placed with foster parents are given statutory, supervisory and general
medical care by general medical practitioners but in some cases the statutory medical
examination and the examinations for certification of freedom from infection are
carried out by assistant medical officers.
Co-ordination of Personal Health Services
In order to co-ordinate the personal services of the various departments of the
Council, there is a co-ordinating committee, consisting of a nominated officer from
each of the departments concerned—Town Clerk's, Health, Children's, Welfare,
Housing and Education. The Health Department is represented by the Principal
Medical Officer for Maternity and Child Health. The committee met regularly
throughout the year.
A "brains trust" was arranged at Southbury Clinic, to which were invited
representatives from a large number of voluntary and other organisations in the
borough. The Deputy Medical Officer of Health was in the chair and the panel
consisted of the nominated officer for each department. The meeting was very well
attended, and a wide variety of questions were asked.
Problem Families
Once more, a number of case conferences were held and at the end of the year
eighteen families were on the "Problem Families" register. As a result of the
case conferences an elderly person was admitted to Part III accommodation, and
another to warden-controlled accommodation; one family was re-housed; seven
cases were closed after their difficulties had been resolved as far as possible; and
one family moved out of the borough.
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