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mother has started to make clothes for herself and the children and, when two of their
rooms had been cleared of the accumulated rubbish of years, the father, who hitherto
had taken little interest in the home, volunteered to decorate them during his summer
holidays.
Mrs. S., who has been very aggressive to outsiders, now feels that her difficulties are
appreciated and understood, and the marked change in her behaviour has been reflected
in the children: the two eldest, both formerly enuretic, who had been attending a special
investigation clinic, were virtually cured in six months, and this rapid progress must be
attributed in part to the calmer home atmosphere.
There is still much to be done in the home and the mother will need support for some
time further as there has been a rapid deterioration whenever the special home help has
been on holiday or sick leave. Both parents have high ideals of how a home should be
run, but having a large family in a short time the mother found the situation so overwhelming
that she gave up trying. It is only since she had the support of someone who
could help her towards attaining her own high standards that she has made any effort at
all. It has been possible, however, to reduce the service provided from four hours every day
to two hours on weekdays.
Periodic discussions are held between the home help organiser, social case-worker and
special home help to consider the direction and way in which further efforts to help the
family should be made.
During 1959 110 problem families received special home help, and the number being
attended at the end of the year was 63.
Male helps—Among the home helps employed are a small number of male home helps
whose service is most valuable where it is not possible or advisable to send a woman to
help a male patient; they provide all the usual household and personal assistance for their
cases. At the end of 1959 there were 21 of these helps in the Council's service.

*1955-1957, number of times assistance given; from 1958, number of households assisted.
†From 1958 excludes staff on annual and sick leave.
‡These are included in total cases assisted.
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