View report page

THE SCHOOL LEAVER AND EMPLOYMENT - DNSUITABILITY FOR CERTAIN OCCUPATIONS
The School Health and the Youth Employment Service work closely together during
the last two years of the child's school life and one of the last duties which the former
service does for a child on leaving school is to give the Youth Employment Officer an
indication of the child's fitness for employment. The school medical officer, at the
last inspection of the child at 14 years plus, makes out a general school-leaving report
indicating appropriate unsuitabilities for employment. Twenty years ago the Board of
Education issued an Administrative Memorandum in which it was agreed that the most useful
form of advice to be given to the Youth Employment Officer was in terms related to the
specific unsui-tability of certain children for particular types of work and that a list
of such terms should be printed for use by the medical officer at the last routine examination
of the children. The form which is used lists seventeen limitations to employment
such as heavy manual work, sedentary work, exposure to bad weather, work in damp atmosphere,
work in dusty atmosphere, work involving normally acute vision, work involving normal colour
vision and so on. Any necessary investigations and treatment are carried out before a pupil
leaves school. It is found in practice that limitations are most frequently recommended on
account of eye strain and normally acute visiont nerrt in order of frequency are heavy
manual work, exposure to bad weather, prolonged standing, much walking or quick movement
from place to place, and work in damp or dusty atmosphere. Following the passing of the
Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944 the Minister issued a Memorandum dealing with
choice of employment for handicapped children. A form was issued which listed the same
seventeen unsuitabilities mentioned In the general school-leaving mediasl report and,
in addition, a section for recording the nature of the child's disablement, its probable
duration, and its bearing on the obtaining or keeping of suitable employment. This form,
however, was not to be used without the consent of the parent or guardian. This form is
used mainly for children in attendance at special schools, which are visited each term
for the purpose of reviewing the capabilities of the school leavers. Registration under
this Act gives the disabled juvenile a better chance of obtaining and keeping a job.
During the year 8 reports were submitted for this purpose. The great majority of children
subject to limitations for certain occupations have the general Form used for which no
parental consent is required.
MISCELLANEOUS
Among other types of examinations may be mentioned the followingj-
(a) Medical examinations of children boarded out in foster-homes or in the
Children's Homes are carried out for the Children's Officer by medical
officers of both the School Health and Maternity and Child Welfare
Services, So far as practicable each cf the Children's Homes has a
medical officer attached to it to take a personal interest in the
welfare of the children and to give the occasional services required.
During the year the medical officers of the School Health Service
examined 49 children;
(b) Medical examination of children prior to participating in school Journeys
311; all were found fit;
(c) Examinations by medical officers and nurses in connection with the
Children's Country Holiday Fund - 111;
154