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Planning—Families may be classified broadly into five groups :
(a) Above normal visiting standard.
(b) Socially sound.
(c) Families with problems.
(d) Potential problem families, and
(e) Hardcore problem families.
It was with the selection of these two last groups that the survey was concerned.
Potential problem families and hardcore problem families may be defined respectively
as ' those in which there are early signs of failure . . . which may lead to disruption
of normal home life with consequent risk to . . . the children ' and ' those
which are unable, by their own efforts, to raise themselves from the state into which
they have fallen or to take advantage of the social services of which they are in need
There are, however, numerous other definitions and it was felt that any inquiry based
solely on qualitative criteria would lead to subjective assessments by health visitors
and others, and no valid conclusions could be drawn from the results. Some form of
quantitative criteria had therefore to be applied. Accordingly the factors which were
likely to be found in such families were listed and points allocated to each factor : this
provisional pointing system was tested by application to the circumstances of a number
of families and modified in the light of the tests. The factors and points awarded to
them were chosen arbitrarily but they provide a clear and uniform basis for a survey ;
moreover they enable comparable assessments to be made in later years. A maximum
of five discretionary points was allowed for imponderables. The list of factors and the
points awarded are set out below—for brevity certain detail has been omitted such as
guidance on the interpretation of drinking, gambling and promiscuity as factors and
the period over which they should have been operative.
Factors likely to be found in problem families
1. In a parent
(a) Low intelligence or mental deficiency.
(b) Mental illness.
(c) Physical handicap or illness which prevents work or permits of light work only,
e.g., tuberculosis, heart disease.
(d) Prolonged or recurrent unemployment of main wage earner from other causes
than physical handicap or illness.
(e) Excessive drinking.
(J) Excessive gambling.
(g) Sexual promiscuity.
(h) Serving, or has served, a prison sentence.
(i) Suspected cruelty to or neglect of children.
(j) Known cruelty to or neglcct of children.
2. Other parental shortcomings
(a) Persistent quarrelling.
(b) Failure to call doctor for major illness.
(c) Leaving young children unattended.
3. In a child
(a) Repeated hospitalisation of one or more children for gastro-enteritis or respiratory
disease, or two or more children for minor accidents.
(b) Persistent truancy.
(c) Juvenile delinquency (court cases only).
(d) Attendance at child guidance clinic.
(e) Under probation officer or committed to care by a court.
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