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85
CHILDREN'S SERVICES
Establishment
The establishment of the Children's Section at 31st December 1970
was as follows:-
Children's Officer 2 Senior Child Care Officers
Deputy Children's Officer 5 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.
During the year plans have been put in hand to carry out the provisions
of the Social Services Act 1970 and the Children & Young Persons
Act 1969, both of which come into force on the 1st January 1971.
This legislation will greatly extend the work of the Department, and
for this reason two additional male child care officers were appointed to
strengthen the staff. This increase in child care staff has made it possible
for a greater number of families "at risk" to be advised and befriended,
and it is hoped that this will reduce the likelihood of some family relationships
breaking down, or children from these families, and others, coming
before the Court.
As part of the increased preventive work being done with children
who present problems in their own homes, group outings were arranged
during the school summer holidays for a total of 60 children. The parents
appreciated the support given them and next summer it is hoped that
some of them may take an active part in some of the outings.
The number of children placed in the Borough for adoption, and
subsequently adopted, has dropped by about one third, which appears to
reflect the national trend.
The new Reception Home (Community Home) Haslam House was
formerly handed over on the 20th January 1970, and the first child was
admitted on the 16th March. The building which was officially opened by
the Deputy Mayor on the 5th October, was fully staffed after difficulties
by the end of the year and had admitted a total of 32 boys and 12 girls.
In the forthcoming year Haslam House will serve a dual purpose,
functioning when necessary as a reception and assessment unit.
Bearing in mind the extent of the legislation coming into force in
January 1971, close contact has been maintained with the Probation
Department which has resulted in a certain number of children being