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On 1st October 1965, the Principal Home Help Organiser took up her
appointment as co-ordinator of the four home help offices. She and the four
organisers gave talks to student health visitors, university students, hospital
nurses, etc. A number of visits to the households of people receiving help were
arranged for these students.
Training courses for home helps were arranged to commence in 1966 covering
the subjects necessary to ensure a more efficient service. Fifty home helps were
specially selected to attend the first course of 24-hours instructions to be spread
over two months and to cover the practical and theoretical work of a home help.
Home helps specially trained to work with problem families gave 844 hours
service to six such families.
The organising staff and the home helps carried out their work most
conscientiously despite inclement weather, transport difficulties and shortage of
staff. The sense of vocation of so many of the home helps was a vital asset to this
important service.
Statistics of the service provided from Is/ April 1965—31s/ December 1965
Number of households assisted 4,287
Number of new applications received 1,714
Applications deferred or refused because a home help
not available 8
Visits made to householders by Organising Staff 7,438
Details of households assisted.
Type of cases Total number
Maternity 25
Tuberculosis 39
Sick and infirm elderly (over 65 years) 3,724
Chronic sick (15 to 64 years) 331
Early morning and evening help 20
Child help (resident) —
Night help for the Chronic sick —
Special help (problem family) 6
Miscellaneous 125
Toxaemia of pregnancy (Free service on request of
consultant or doctor) 2
Mental Health cases 15
Total 4,287
Staff
Home helps employed at end of year 575
Equivalent of whole-time staff 326£
63