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184
ANNEX D
Selection of families where a special home help was employed
Family 1. Family consists of father, who is unco-operative and difficult to contact,
mother whose intelligence is not very high, and five children aged from 17 years to
10 months. In the first few days the home help washed a pile of clothing which took
15 hours to clear ; she removed maggots and human and animal excreta from the kitchcn
floor, as well as the remains of a Christmas party from behind the dressing table (it was
then May). Two supposedly enuretic children have responded to habit training; the
mother's health is so much improved that a recuperative holiday suggested by the
divisional co-ordinating committee is now not necessary. A neighbour, on seeing the
improvement in this family, has redecorated the common landing. The mother now
has no debts and pays her rent regularly. Father is still unsatisfactory and has recently
been summoned for a debt of £80. Help will be needed by this family for some time,
but there has already been a marked improvement.
Family 2. Mother unable to manage three small children. Home neglected. Husband
worried and threatened to leave home. Special home help supplied for six hours daily,
and three-year-old child admitted to a day nursery as being unmanageable. Progress in
nursery, child settled down and played happily with other children. Mother is gradually
gaining confidence in shopping and handling money. She is learning to cook with
assistance from the home help, and is caring for the children. The home help's hours
have been reduced to four hours daily, and will be reduced again shortly. The husband
is pleased with the progress, the family relationship is happier and the mother's health
has improved.
Family 3. Family consists of father (aged 28), mother (aged 29), seven children (aged
from 9 years to 6 months). Mother expecting another baby. A ' hard-core ' problem
family known to all social agencies in the area for years past. The sole redeeming feature
is the affection of the parents for one another and for their children. Both parents of low
mentality. Father usually unemployed and family living on National Assistance and
children's allowances. Home practically unfurnished with little more than two beds and
two chairs. No table and not even a knife to cut food. Larder empty, food being bought
and consumed as needed. Piles of clothing contaminated by faeces in cupboards and in
kitchen. Rent heavily in arrears and electric light cut off because of non-payment.
Following provision of special home help, all contaminated clothing washed by the
mother and brought back into use. Much furniture, equipment and clothing given or
lent. Father obtained work as a means of escaping household chores, and National
Assistance terminated. Rent being paid regularly plus 7s. 6d. a week off arrears. It is
hoped to get electricity bill paid and current restored soon. A shilling or two has also
been paid off each week in reduction of various debts to tallymen. Under guidance,
mother is doing her routine housework, washing and cooking for the family. She now
makes out her own shopping list and she and her husband shop together. Mother's
personal appearance has improved and children look better for regular and cooked
meals in place of former diet of pies and chips. The children's toilet habits have improved
and they have responded to the changed home conditions.
Family 4. Family consists of father, mother and seven children aged 13, 9, 6, 5 and
triplets born 6 April, 1956. Parents after much quarrelling separated in 1953, but father
visited family at weekends and family reunited upon birth of the triplets. The babies
were transfused shortly after birth (mother rhesus negative) and it was necessary to
ensure that the instruction given the mother in hospital as to artificial feeding technique
was continued on her return home. Mother bad manager and her mothercraft is poor.
Apart from ensuring a clean and orderly home for the delicate triplets to come to on
discharge from hospital and that they were properly fed and cared for in the first month
of their home life, little was achieved by the provision of a special home help. The