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109
Home Help Service
At the end of 1969, the equivalent of 312 full-time Home Helps
were employed and the table below gives an account of the duties
undertaken.
Type of Case No.
Aged 65 years or over on first Visit in 1969 3,402
Aged under 65 years on first Visit in 1969:
Chronic Sick and Tuberculous 175
Mentally Disordered 26
Maternity 87
Others 286
574
Total Cases 3,976
These figures reflect the increasing amount of service given to
elderly people. With an advance of over 3% from fewer staff they
undoubtedly indicate that the home help is an invaluable member of
a team which exists to enable these residents to remain in the
community until extreme age or infirmity necessitates admission
to one of the Council's Homes for the elderly.
Shortages of home helps were apparent in all three areas of the
Borough throughout 1969. From experience, the Organisers have
learnt that recruitment by advertisement is far from satisfactory
and that recommendations from existing staff produce the best
recruits to this front-line service. There was the usual staff
depletion after Christmas and the school holidays—a number of
home helps work to supplement the family income with these
objectives in mind.
Family Aids
"Family Aids" were attached to family caseworkers employed
to give intensive help to families who, for various reasons, were
unable to benefit from the normal supportive social services.
Child and Home Help Courses
A total of 36 home helps attended two one-week courses of
"in-service" training. The programmes included talks and discussions on deprived children, the care of the sick in their own
homes, the care of the elderly, the nursing mother and her baby,
and first-aid for emergencies in the home.
Health Visiting
Services were continued on similar lines to those of previous
years and the following table summarises the visiting carried out
during 1969:—