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44
DOMESTIC HELP SCHEME.
My Annual Report for the year 1946 contained a historical
summary of the facilities for the provision of home helps which have
been in existence since 1931, and of the action which was taken by
your Council to provide a more comprehensive scheme for the
provision of domestic help in accordance with the suggestions
contained in Ministry of Health Circular 179/44.
On 1st August, 1946, the new scheme—of supplying domestic
help to persons sick and infirm in addition to maternity cases—
was put into operation ; and on that date a special Domestic and
Home Help Office was opened at 267, High Road, Leyton.
Despite advertisements in local papers, apphcation to the
local office of the Ministry of Labour, and the circularising of members
of the Women's Voluntary Service by the Local Organiser,
it has been a difficult task to recruit and maintain a sufficient staff
of domestic helps to provide for all applicants for the service. At
the end of 1946 three full-time and ten part-time workers were on
the staff. During 1947 two of the full-time staff resigned, and
many part-time home helps were put on probation for varying
periods. At the end of the year there were one full-time and 18
part-time home helps.
It was found during the year that the Home Help Office at 267,
High Road, Leyton, which was established in premises used by
the Women's Voluntary Service, was inconvenient; and in December
your Council decided to transfer the Office and Staff to the
Public Health Department in the Town Hall, where all records
regarding the Maternity and Child Welfare Services are kept.
The number of completed cases during 1947 was 238. At the
end of the year 15 apphcants were receiving help, and 56 further
applications had been received. Of the 238 cases, 211 were for
assistance during confinement, the average period of help being
two weeks. The remaining 27 cases varied considerably in length ;
the average being 5.4 weeks.
The total cost in home helps' wages for the cases completed
in 1947 was £2,448, of which £677 was recovered from the apphcants.