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79
CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Establishment
The establishment of the Children's Section at 31st December, 1968
was as follows:—
Children's Officer Senior Child Care Officer
Deputy Children's Officer 4 Child Care Officers
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,
and also supervises children placed for adoption or placed in foster homes
by their parents. There is an advisory clinic once a week for parents who
are worried about their teenage children.
The year 1968 was the fourth in which the Children's services in
Harrow functioned under the direction of a Committee of the London
Borough of Harrow. There have been no staff changes during this period
among child care officers or the administrative staff.
Arrangements were made for a total of 16 children from the Children's
Homes at 7a Gaylor Road and 229 The Heights to go for a fortnight's
summer holiday at St. Mary's Bay, Kent, and the children enjoyed their
holiday very much indeed. It was possible through the generosity of
several associations to arrange, in co-operation with the health visitors and
the Welfare Section to give some families a chicken for Christmas dinner,
together with a parcel of toys.
During the year there were enquiries from 350 parents, relatives and
guardians about 540 children, which resulted in 93 being received into
care. A total of 11 were discharged from care. Of the 7 Fit Person Orders
made by the Courts committing children to the care of the Borough, it
was possible to rehouse a young couple, so that the Fit Person Orders made
in respect of their two children could be revoked and the children are now
once more in the care of their parents. One of the children committed on a
Fit Person Order was left in a vegetable box in a doorway, but he is now
thriving and making excellent progress. A total of 85 children were
supervised by this section during the probationary period required by the
Adoption Act, 1958, pending adoption.
Fifteen children were committed to approved schools by the Courts.
Requests from the approved schools, whose duty it is to appoint the aftercare
officers, were made for the after-care to be carried out by Harrow
Child Care officers for 12 children.
The Parents' Advisory Clinic is continuing to prove a great support.
Of the 43 cases referred, it was not necessary for any child to be brought
before the Court during this period.