View report page

32
Home Helps.
During the year arrangements were made by the Council for
the provision of Home Helps at the homes of patients during
pregnancy and/or childbirth. The Maternity and Child Welfare
Committee was authorised to appoint suitable persons to be placed
on a Panel and to make the necessary administrative arrangements
in order to give effect to the scheme.
The Committee decided to establish the following conditions
in connection with this service : —
(a) The Home Help to be selected by the patient from a panel to be
provided by the Council of persons willing to undertake these duties.
(6) The Home Help, before taking up her duties, to be approved by the
Medical Officer of Health after a satisfactory report from the Health Visitor as to
character and proof of practical experience in domestic duties.
(c) The Home Help to be supervised during the performance of her duties
by a Municipal Health Visitor.
(d) The period of engagement of a Home Help to be for a period of two
weeks, subject to variation in exceptional medical circumstances, the working
time not to exceed forty hours per week unless specially authorised.
(e) Payment for such services to be at the rate of 1s. per hour with a
maximum of £2 per week.
(f) Payment by the Council to the Home Help on receipt of a weekly time
sheet duly certified.
(g) Recovery from the patient of all or part of the cost of the services
provided, to be judged on the merits of each case.
The income scale as applied to the Milk Distribution Scheme
to serve as a guide in the assessment of charges for such services.
The duties of a Home Help are as follows : —
On being summoned to the case, she must as soon as possible inform the
Medical Officer of Health at the Town Hall. A stamped addressed envelope will
be given for this purpose.
She must not attend the case until the confinement is over, unless her services
are specially authorised during pregnancy, and such services are only to be given
as required between the ho11urs of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. (except in special circumstances).
A Home Help must, however, attend the home of the patient not later than 8 a.m.
each day after the day of confinement.
She is only expected to attend for a period of 40 hours per week for two
weeks. Any time in excess of this will not be paid for unless special authority is
given.
The times of attendances must be entered on a time-sheet daily, which
sheet should be signed by the patient or some responsible person on her behalf
and presented at the Town Hall for payment as each week is completed.
The duties consist of general home management, including cooking,
marketing, not more than two weeks' washing, and the care of the children (she
will not undertake arrears of washing).
A doctor and a nurse, or midwife will be in attendance, and it must be fully
understood that no nursing duties are to be undertaken by the Home Help.
If there are not suitable facilities for washing in the house, the Home Help
will wash elsewhere (Baths, etc.) and out-of-pocket expenses, if any, will be paid.
Patients are not expected to provide meals for Home Helps.
A Home Help must undertake to inform the Medical Officer of Health
at once in writing if for any reason she is unable to carry out the duties ; also that
she will not attend other confinement cases while engaged at the home of a patient.