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77
Case 6. Mother of four children. Father working spasmodically.
A very unco-operative and apathetic family. The mother
is capable and has a fairly good knowledge of housekeeping,
but fails to maintain a reasonable standard in
the home.
Case 7. Divorced mother of five children. Mother physically
handicapped, now managing with the help of ordinary Home
Help for heavy work.
Case 8. This family have now moved out of the district.
A total of 1,580 hours was given to this service and in all
but one case, it was free of charge to the recipients. The lessons
learned are no doubt familiar to experienced workers in this
field. Although the need for help may be obvious to all observers
and would be welcomed by the majority of ordinary families, it
may, nevertheless, be refused despite the most careful approach.
Refusal may be anticipated and the true reason understood, and
time, skill and patience are the only solutions. Pressure of
impending legal action or eviction makes masterly inactivity a
difficult matter for the social worker however much it may be
indicated.
Working with family units and undertaking the long-term
follow-up of children does develop the ability to sense the general
trend of a family's progress. It is essential not to be too
distracted by setbacks or over-encouraged by sudden improvements.
When this work commenced, some 18 months ago, a number of families
were immediately brought forward by the Health Visitors. This
initial pressure now seems over and it appears well within the
scope of the Home Help Service to cope with this kind of work
as a routine duty.
One Health Visitor has also continued to give a major part
of her time to assisting families with children admitted to Welfare
Services Receiving Homes under Part III of the National
Assistance Act. (see the Appendix, page 117).
families in Welfare Services Accommodation:-
Report by the Health Visitor co-ordinating this work.
The work has changed during the past year. More emphasis has
been placed on helping the families either in the Receiving Homes
or on the district to achieve a better standard of home conditions.