View report page

83
CHILDREN'S SERVICES
The Children's Section receives into care children under the age of
17 who are without the care of parents or who have been lost or
abandoned. The Children's Section also supervises children placed for
adoption and children placed in foster homes arranged by their parents.
The section also has an advisory clinic once a week for parents who are
worried about their teenage children.
The year 1967 was the third in which the Children's Section in Harrow
functioned under the direction of a Committee of the Borough of
Harrow. There have been no staff changes during this period among the
child care officers or the administrative staff. During this year the Home
Office made one of their periodical reviews and reported favourably on the
service being provided. They stressed the good relationship within the
department amongst the staff and also with the staff of other departments.
The Home Office inspectors made some useful suggestions and the future
of the social services generally was discussed in the light of the forthcoming
Seebohm Report.
During the year there were 272 enquiries from parents, relatives and
guardians about 466 children, which resulted in 115 being received into
care, and 114 were discharged home again. Of the 7 Fit Person Orders
made by the Courts committing children to the care of the Borough, 2
were for a period of 28 days, after which the Magistrates allowed the
children to return to the care of their parents. Under a full Fit Person
Order the Borough has the responsibility of caring for the child until he
or she reaches the age of 18 years unless the Order is revoked at the
request of the parents or guardian. One Fit Person Order made during
the year was revoked as the girl in question had married the father of her
baby. Two children under the age of two years were committed to care on
the grounds that the lack of care, protection or guidance on the part of
their parents was likely to cause them unnecessary suffering, or seriously
to affect their health or proper development. A total of 86 children was
supervised by this department during the probationary period required by
the Adoption Act, 1958, pending adoption.
Fourteen children were committed to Approved Schools by the
Courts. Requests from the Approved Schools, whose duty it is to appoint
the after-care officers, were made for the after-care to be carried out by
this section for 11 boys.
The Parents' Advisory Clinic is continuing to prove a great support
and is providing advice not only for parents by also for the staff. Of the 48
cases referred it was not necessary for any child to be brought before the
Court during this period.