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into and supported by the community. This means helping them to
improve their relationships within their own families, with the schools
their children attend and with all the activities offered by religious and
other institutions. The first few weeks of intensive work when all the
material matters are being dealt with must be used to develop such a
good relationship that the attitudes of the family may gradually be changed
and the services of the special worker be reduced.
2. When a family moves from furnished accommodation to unfurnished,
secondhand furniture must be obtained and the family persuaded not to
buy anything on hire purchase.
3. The less severe psychopath will work regularly if he can be helped to
find work that he likes. For the severe psychopath there should be
controlled workshops so that his time can be fully occupied away from
his home for part of every day.
4. Those who are severely ill mentally can be helped but will always need
support until a cure can be found for their illness.
I have been very surprised at the amount of detailed work required in
dealing with these families. A full day-to-day history must be kept so that
at any moment information required is forthcoming. Reports have to be sent
to different local authority departments, to general practitioners, hospitals,
marriage guidance counsellors and other organisations, and the writing of them
is very time-consuming.
Although there is a great deal of publicity about all services available
to the family, I get very many enquiries from various people needing help.
Once they have been told of the statutory and voluntary services available, they
are quite well able to deal with their own problems. I have felt for some time
that a "Family Advice Bureau" would be of great value. "
Statistics
The following table shows the number of visits paid by health visitors
during the past two years: -
No. of visits paid by Health Visitors working in the Area:- 1959 1958
Expectant Mothers First Visits 2285 1982
Total Visits 3511 3358
Children under 1 year of age First Visits 4234 4136
Total Visits 16056 16025
Children aged 1-2 Total Visits 8101 7771
Children aged 2-5 Total Visits 13202 12643
Other cases - Total Visits as Health Visitor 6246 6051
Total Visits as School Nurse 878 911
70