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34
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT, 1929.
On the 1st April, 1930, the work in connection with Infant
Life Protection was transferred from the Board of Guardians to
the Local Authority, and it has become a purely public health matter,
whereas previously the Guardians assumed other functions in
tracing out the father and exacting payment where it could be
obtained.
The transfer of duties was made known by notices in the local
press, by sending a circular letter and brief details of the law to all
the known foster-mothers, and by information supplied at the Council's
Maternity and Child Welfare Centres.
No special Infant Protection Visitors have been appointed, but
the work has been divided amongst the existing staff of Health Visitors,
who have paid 338 visits to foster-children between the 1st
April and 31st December.
Many of the foster-children have also been brought regularly
to the Maternity and Child Welfare Centres.
The work has progressed smoothly, and the foster-mothers
generally have proved satisfactory. In one case only was it found
necessary to take any action, and here the foster-mother's name was
removed from the Begister as the accommodation was unsatisfactory.
It was found that all the upstair rooms were sub-let, and the
family (5 in all) were sleeping in one room. The child is now with
another foster-mother in the district, and has a room to himself.
No new foster-mother is registered until she has supplied full
details of her circumstances, etc., and the home has been found
satisfactory by the Visitor.
When a foster-child removes to an address outside the area, full
details are sent immediately to the appropriate authority, and any
foster-child arriving in this area, whether it is reported to have
come to its parents or not, is visited to see that all is satisfactory.