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28
Care of the Unsupported Mother and her Child
This type of case presents many problems, many of which can be
very difficult to resolve. There is no set pattern for dealing with them—
each case being considered in the light of all circumstances and the best
solution possible worked out in the interests of the mother and child.
Many social work agencies can be involved and they all work in collaboration
with the Medical Social Worker engaged specifically to deal with
such problems and whose services are shared with the London Borough
of Brent.
During 1966, 94 applications for help were received from expectant
mothers and 56 entered Mother and Baby Homes. Of the remaining 38,
21 mothers decided to keep their babies and returned home from hospital.
One mother had a still-birth and another made her own private arrangements
for adoption. One mother preferred to care for her baby in her own
home until he was placed by an Adoption Society. Five girls did not pursue
their initial applications and probably left the area; one au pair girl
returned to her own country.
The remaining eight mothers asked for their babies to be placed with
foster mothers from hospital pending adoption. These arrangements were
made but only one baby was placed in the Harrow area. There would
appear to be a great dearth of approved short term private foster mothers
in Harrow and this necessitates babies being placed, often quite a distance,
away from the mother's home area. As the mother has to take her baby
to the Adoption Society for interview and again for hand-over when
adopters have been chosen, the extra travelling involved can cause
difficulties and hardship.
The demand for fostering from hospital is increasing and is sought
mainly by the professional girl and by families of the very young expectant
mother, often a school girl, whom it is felt would have great difficulty in
taking an objective view of the future of her child should she have to care
for him for any length of time. In certain circumstances this type of
fostering can be an enormous help to a mother in coming to a decision
but it is not the answer for every unmarried mother.
Day Nurseries
There are two day nurseries in the Borough providing accommodation
for 110 children aged 0-5 years for whom nursery provision is required
on health grounds.
These nurseries are at:—
(a) Headstone Drive, Wealdstone 50 place
(b) Walton Avenue, South Harrow 60 place