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old persons who, by reason of age and infirmity, are unable to look
after themselves and their homes. The scheme is also useful in cases
of temporary illness in a family, where no other type of help happensto
be available. One way or another, the Domestic Help Scheme
has proved a valuable addition to our existing social services and has.
quite obviously come to stay.
In this connection, it may at some time not too far distant be
necessary to arrange for the Council's combined Home Help and
Domestic Help Schemes to be handled by a specially appointed
member of the staff. The work entailed in running these schemes is
considerable, and occupies quite a proportion of the time of one of
the Health Visitors and the Chief Clerk. This is both unsatisfactory
and uneconomical, since the work could quite easily be undertaken
by anyone possessing reasonable organising ability, sympathetic
understanding of human problems, and common sense. It is
doubtful whether the work entailed would at present justify a fulltime
appointment, but this may become necessary in the relatively
near future. There can be no doubt that the work is important, and
that, to equate the various problems which arise from day to day,
much thought and time must be expended. More time could alsobe
profitably spent in attempting to recruit additional Home and
Domestic Helps, by direct, personal approach to local Women's
Organisation, Churches and the like. The services of an ad hoc
organiser would be particularly useful here.
If we cannot devote sufficient time to these problems, we
are leaving a duty undone which remains a clear and urgent responsibility.
It should quite soon be possible to assess the
need more clearly and to determine how much, if any, additional
help is required. When that time arrives, I hope to have the
privilege of presenting a special report to the Committees concerned.
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