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APPENDIX G.
To the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee.
INFANT LIFE PROTECTION.
The Willesden Urban District Council became the authority for Infant Life Protection on
the 1st April, 1930. The Ministry of Health advised the local authority to appoint its Health Visitors
as Infant Protection Visitors, and the Council acted accordingly on 28th January, 1930.
In Willesden there are usually some 130 mothers receiving some 200 children for reward.
On receipt of a notice that a child has been received for reward the Infant Protection Visitor
visits forthwith, so that inter alia she may record the condition of the child when first received by
the foster mother. She also visits each foster mother not less frequently than once every two months,
in order to satisfy herself as required by the Children Act, 1908, as to the proper nursing and maintenance
of the infants, and to give any necessary advice or directions as to their nursing and maintenance.
During the nine months ended 31st December, 1930, 769 visits were paid to foster homes,
and from the 1st January to the 10th October of this year 786 visits have been paid.
Certain rules as to the reception of children are laid down in the Children Act. Children must
not be received for reward where the following conditions exist:—
(a) If the foster mother is one from whose care children have been removed under Part I.
of the Children Act, 1908, or under the Infant Life Protection Act, 1897.
(b) If the premises are premises from which an infant has been removed under Part I. of the
Children Act, 1908, on account of the premises being dangerous or insanitary, or under
the Infant Life Protection Act, 1897, on account of the premises being so unfit as to
endanger the infants' health.
(c) If the foster mother is one who has been convicted of offences under Part II. of the Children
Act or the Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act, 1904.
Similarly, children may be removed from their foster homes if the following conditions
exist:—
(a) If the premises are overcrowded, dangerous or insanitary.
(b) If the foster mother is unfit to have care of the child owing to negligence, ignorance,
inebriety, immorality, criminal conduct or other similar cause.
When visiting a foster home the Infant Protection Visitor interviews the foster mother
and inspects the premises and the bedding. She examines the foster child, its clothing and its skin.
She also has regard to the following:—
1. The age and capability of the foster mother.
2. The number, age and sex of the other members of the household.
3. The demands on the foster mother's time.
4. Any assistance that the foster mother may have available.
5. The accommodation, equipment, orderliness, and cleanliness of the house.
6. The proposed regime for the foster child.
In considering the number of foster children who are to sleep in a room, the Infant Protection
Visitor has regard to the size of the room, the amount of furniture in the room, ventilation, lighting
and the number of other persons that the room accommodates. The Willesden Bye-laws for Houses
let in Lodgings require that a sleeping room shall have 400 cubic feet of air space for a person over
10 years of age and 250 cubic feet of air space for children under 10. The Model Bye-laws of the
Ministry of Health relating to Improvement Schemes suggest that a sleeping room should allow
40 square feet of floor space for each person of school age and 30 square feet for each person under
school age, provided that the average height of the room is 8 ft.
The Infant Protection Visitor requires that a child under 3 years should have a separate bed.
She does not insist that older children should sleep separately, but as a fact foster children generally
have separate beds, except where they are brothers or sisters.
Where a mother is making an application to take an additional foster child the Infant Protection
Visitor also takes into consideration the manner in which she has dealt with her existing foster
children.
It is not easy to suggest standards. Foster homes vary very considerably, and are found in
every locality in Willesden. The charges at these foster homes vary greatly, being from as low as
7s. 6d. per week to as high as £2 2s. Od. per week. The average is probably from 12s. to 12s. 6d.
per week. These charges generally include clothing.
Foster homes to suit the particular person concerned are not always easy to obtain. Many of
the parents looking for foster homes are single girls, who cannot afford more than minimum charges,
and if suitable foster homes within their means are not available they send their children to relatives,
where they often live under poor conditions and without supervision by any authority.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN,
November, 1931. Medical Officer of Health.