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25
The Moral Welfare Worker does a considerable amount of work
in placing mothers in maternity homes on the London County
Council's approved list and in obtaining grants from the County
Council towards the charges. She also meets the girls at railway
termini, escorts them to and from refuges or to a convalescent home
at Cricklewood from which the children are adopted.
During the year 103 "problem" cases were dealt with and a
considerable amount of time was involved in interviews, clerical
work and visiting, occasional evening visits being made. In this
connection the Child Protection Visitor made 314 visits during the
year.
83 illegitimate children were born in St. Margaret's Maternity
Home, Victoria Park Road, during 1946. The mothers of these
children came from all parts of the country. The 83 children were
dealt with in the following way:—
6 went home with their mothers;
18 were sent to foster-parents;
59 were adopted.
The Salvation Army dealt with 120 illegitimate children born
in the Salvation Army Mothers' Hospital. These children went
with their mothers from the Mothers' Hospital to Salvation Army
Mothers' and Babies' Homes for about six months and then were
(a) taken home by their mothers, (b) sent to foster-parents or (c)
taken with their mothers into domestic service. The mothers of
these children came from all parts of the country.
There is also a Jewish Association which works independently
and its work is good and the financial help to mothers liberal.
Two cases were assisted under the scheme of guaranteed payments
to foster-mothers and one case under the scheme for
guaranteed payments to daily guardians.
The Council contributed the sum of £143 towards the funds of
voluntary organisations concerned with moral welfare work.
Care of Premature Children.—In accordance with the recommendations
set out in Ministry of Health Circular No. 20/44 with
regard to the care of premature infants, provision has been made
on the notification of birth forms for the supply of information as
to birth-weight of premature infants when this is 5½ lbs. or less.
Thus, the Health Visitors now have early information of premature
infants who may need special supervision, and can report as to the
need of equipment in the home, the services of a Home Help or any
of the special arrangements recommended to the Minister of Health
by his Advisory Committee on the Welfare of Mothers and Young
Children,