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3. Each of the two health visitors shall be granted a car allowance
at the casual user rate.
4. These health visitors shall not have their hours of duty prescribed
because they will need to undertake evening work.
5. Financial provision to be made available so that immediate
requirements of equipment, cleaning materials, and food not
exceeding 25s. Od. per family, may be purchased for the family
where necessary.
Duties of the Health Visitors
The duties of the Problem Family Health Visitors will obviously vary
from case to case, but the following are set out as an example of the
type of duties which the work will entail:—
1. Receive the case information which is known to the department
or forwarded to it by the Sanitary Inspector, the Health Visitor
for the District, the Probation Officer or other social worker.
2. Family difficulties. Deal first with the difficulties of the family
itself even if these difficulties are not regarded by the reporting
agency as the most urgent. By this means the Health Visitor will
get on to the right footing with the family and obtain its confidence.
Other problems connected with the family can be dealt with afterwards.
3. Health. Make arrangements for the improving of the health of
each individual in the family. If necessary, accompany the mother
or children to the clinic, private doctor or hospital, or mind the
children while the parent goes to hospital, etc.
Put into motion the arrangements for convalescence if necessary.
4. Conditions in the home. Improve the cleanliness of the family and
home by helping the mother to do the washing and cleaning in
order to show the mother how. Encourage the father to undertake
repairs and redecorations.
5. Equipment. Help to improve the family bedding, cooking equipment
etc. by encouraging the family to buy small equipment itself
and obtaining large equipment from local charities (British Red
Cross Society or W.V.S. etc.).
6. Finance. Make arrangements week by week for the settlement of
debts such as arrears in rent, gas and electricity payments.
Collect the money from the family at the most favourable time
and pass it on to the creditor.
Help with the budgetting. Be familiar with current prices, etc.
7. Care of Children. Supervise the care and sufficiency of clothing,
food and cleanliness.
Prevent older children from staying away from school in order
to mind younger children or for some other reason.
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