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67
Two training courses of two weeks duration were held by the County
Council in 1956, one in February at the Mid-Essex Technical College,
Chelmsford, and one in November at the South-East Essex Technical
College, Dagenham. Four domestic helps from Ilford attended and were
found to be entirely satisfactory.
Prevention of Break-up of Families—Health of Children.—
In this Area very few families are taken into care and then only after
all other methods have been tried first.
A close link with the Domestic Help Service is maintained; if, after
the Organiser's visit, help is refused, parents are advised to write to the
Children's Officer. It is found that when the responsibility is placed on
the parents and they see how difficult it is to get children into care, tRey
will often find a relative to assist them.
Children in problem families are usually discussed with the teachers.
In two instances children were placed in residential boarding school at 11
years of age, to educate them in a better way of life.
A close link continues with the psychiatric social workers and the
health visitors know that they can discuss their cases with these workers.
The children under five are discussed too:—
(1) To ascertain that the advice given by the health visitor is correct.
(2) To prevent the child becoming a real problem.
Problem families are followed up closely by the health visitors. One
family had continuous Domestic Help Service for a period of nine months
to educate the mother in housecraft.