View report page

17
The Committee made an exhaustive enquiry into all
aspects of this very varied subject and made many recommendations
for the improvement in the care of children,
amongst the more important of these being:—
(1) (a) That an existing or separate Department of
State should be responsible for administering and
co-ordinating of measures taken to safeguard the
well-being of the homeless child. It is recommended
that Local Authorities (County Councils
and County Boroughs) either alone or in combination
should appoint a Children's Committee
with power to submit estimates direct to the
Council.
(b) That the Committee should appoint a Children's
Officer responsible to them for the care of all
homeless children under their control.
(2) That the private arrangements now made directly
between the parent of the child and the foster mother
be brought under the full control of the Children's
Committee and the Children's Officer. This would
necessitate:—
(a) an approved list of foster mothers.
(b) the mother to consult the Children's Officer
before placement and so place the child only
with a foster mother on the approved list.
(c) references of the foster mothers being
obtained from some responsible persons.
(3) There is much evidence to show that the uncertainty
of payments to foster mothers by the parent, guardian
or relative tells against the continuance of a happy
home for the child. The Report very strongly recommends
that the "Birmingham Scheme" whereby the
Local Authority guarantees payments to approved
foster parents and recover the payments in whole or
in part from the responsible parent or guardian,
should be adopted by Local Authorities,