Report of the Committee on Children and Young Persons.

  • Great Britain. Committee on Children and Young Persons.
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Committee on Children and Young Persons. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    30/192 (page 20)
    of children through neglect in their own homes. In carrying out this duty local authorities should have powers, apart from those already existing. to do preventive case-work (either themselves or through the agency of @ voluntary society) and to provide material needs that cannot be met from other sources. These powers should not be conferred on any particular committee of the local authority, but should be vested generally in the local authority without specifying the committee through which the local authority must act. 49. We think it is a matter of first importance that there should be adequate arrangements to make known to the public the various services, including voluntary organisations, available to help them in time of need, and where to apply for advice. This question was discussed in a wider context by the Working Party on Social Workers in the Local Health and Welfare Services(1) who thought that there should be a well planned information service as an integral part of the social services provided by local authorities. It is a matter which must be left largely to local initiative, but local authorities should have it constantly in mind and consider in what way their existing publicity arrangements can be improved and kept up to date. In the more densely populated areas particularly, the importance of a central point to which members of the public can turn for advice (the “family advice centre’’) seems obvious ; citizens’ advice bureaux may also perform a most valuable service in this respect. 50. Because of 'the varying conditions and requirements in different areas, we do not advocate any uniform machinery for co-ordination of local authority services, but we recommend that there should be a statutory obligation on local authorities (county and county borough councils) to submit for ministerial approval schemes for the prevention of suffering of children through neglect in their homes. The schemes should provide for:— (a) the detection of families where help is needed ; (b) the co-ordination of information li anes a and diagnosis of the problem ; | (c) the provision of appropriate assistance ; and (a) arrangements for making the services known to the public and for advice as to where individuals can apply for help. We consider that all local authorities oe be required to submit schemes. for approval. 51..In the implementation of this recommendation we are of ‘opinion that it should be made clear to which government department a local authority should look for advice or approval on matters of co-ordination. (‘) Paragraphs 1018-1026 of the Report (H.M.S.0.—1959).