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20. HOME HELP SERVICE
This service is provided under Section 29(1) of the National Health Service Act,
1946, which as amended by the Mental Health Act, 1959, allows a local health
authority to make such arrangements as the Minister of Health may approve for
providing domestic help for households where there is illness, an expectant mother,
an aged person, or a child not over compulsory school age.
TYPES OF SERVICE
There are four types of service provided in the Borough.
(1) The Standard Home Help Service.
(2) The Family Help Service:—
(a) Residential.
(b) Non-residential.
(c) Problem Family.
(3) The Good Neighbour Service.
(4) The Night Service.
(1) The Standard Home Help Service
This is provided in the following circumstances:—
(a) Acute illness—Sudden illness or accident, usually a short-term case.
(b) Home confinements—Expectant mothers are normally given ten days'
assistance from the date of the baby's birth, but this may be increased on a
recommendation from the doctor or midwife attending the case.
(c) Tuberculosis—These are usually long-term cases. The number of hours
required is recommended by the chest physician and is provided in collaboration
with the tuberculosis welfare officer.
(id) Chronic sick and aged—This group comprises the largest number of
cases and the service is usually only terminated by death or admission of the
patient to hospital or welfare home.
(2) The Family Help Service
This service was designed to support a family either when the mother was
temporarily absent or when she was unable to manage and required guidance. It
avoids the necessity of taking children into care and falls into three categories:—
(a) Residential Service—For families with two or more children, where the
mother is temporarily away from home. The home help takes the place of the
housewife, and acts as a temporary mother to the family.
(b) Non-Residential Service—In cases where the mother is absent, the
family help takes the responsibility for the home during the day-time with the
father or a relative taking control at night.
(ic) The Problem Family Service—This is given if the mother, owing to
fecklessness, mental disability or some other reason, is unable to cope with the
normal domestic duties. Family help is employed in order to teach the mother
to manage her household affairs.
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