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25
Child Minders
Section 60 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, has
tightened up requirements for the registration of child minders. Since 1st
November, 1968, persons who for reward receive into their homes one or more
children under the age of 5 years for two or more hours a day must register
with the Council. Former voluntary minders have had to be statutorily
registered. Three months grace was allowed for the persons concerned to apply
and this expired on 31st January, 1969.
The Act gives the Council extra power to reduce or withdraw registration
and to make requirements in connection with registration. Two health visitors
were initially delegated for the extra work especially in the registration of
previous voluntary minders but it was found necessary to appoint an additional
senior nursing officer specifically for this work and she commenced duty
on 1st April. This Officer carries out routine visits and is joined by a
Principal Medical Officer for visits to potential child minders who wish to
mind five or more children.
Arrangements have been made for each applicant for registration to be
visited by a Public Health Inspector who reports on heating appliances and
fire prevention arrangements. The advice given is based on that contained in
the London Fire Brigade code of practice. This inspection covers the safe use
of paraffin heaters, gas, electric, night storage heaters, open fires and slow
combustion stoves as well as proper guarding of appliances, several letters
and re-visits may be needed to see that items needing attention are dealt with
so that registration can proceed.
The Borough Engineer and Surveyor, who is responsible for implementing
Section 16 of the Housing Act, 1961 (provision of means of escape from fire in
multi-occupied houses) is notified of all new registrations of child minders
living in such premises so that means of escape can be fully investigated.
It was decided that the department should hold a small stock of fireguards
for supply to child minders who have been advised to obtain a fireguard
but would have difficulty in meeting the initial cost. The price of the
fireguard is repayable to the Council within a certain time.
A leaflet setting out the penalties for illegal child minding has been
widely distributed. There is space on the reverse side for women to complete
if they wish to apply to be registered.
As a result of the legislation the number of registered minders rose from
22 at the beginning of the year to 128 at the end. This included previous
voluntary minders and women who wished to register for only one child but
there is no doubt the amended Act has had an effect in ensuring that a larger
number of minders are registered and therefore subject to supervision.
CERVICAL CYTOLOGY
This is now an established practice in the borough and it is interesting
to note that a screening programme at Hackney Hospital dates back to 1964.
Interest in this field was created by the Stoke Newington Women's Cancer
Control Campaign. It was decided after negotiations with Hackney Hospital
that the borough should set up cervical screening clinics and at present there
are three held weekly. It was found that although initially attendances were
good, they began to fall off during 1969. It was decided that from April
1969, cervical cytology clinics at two centres, John Scott and Lower Clapton
Road should be held fortnightly instead of weekly. This is certainly a field
where health education is vital and where the advocacy of the well woman
clinic needs to be constantly brought before members of the general public.
Women in this borough often have heavy domestic commitments and find it
difficult to attend clinics at a set time.