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to which the services of home helps were used. It appears
that little use is made of this provision although the need
is very apparent. It may be that there is among many
mothers unwillingness to accept someone else into the home,
or there may be a want of mutual confidence or a feeling
of distrust. The home help may not be allowed to do the
full work of the home and friction may ensue. The Council
gave consideration to this aspect and ultimately resolved
that not only should a panel of home helps be formed,
but that in certain cases the mother should be allowed to
nominate her own home help. It is clearly laid down,
however, that any nominee need not be accepted, and that
the Medical Officer of Health is to be satisfied in every case
that the nominee is a person clean, capable and trustworthy,
and able to do the work properly.
With regard to the fees payable, the Council resolved
that in every case a booking fee should be charged, and
that the fees payable for this service should be collected in
advance.
In the case of those who fall within the Council's Economic
Circumstances Scale the fee has been fixed at 2s., and those
who come under the half cost scale, 4s. In the case of
those above these scales each application is considered on its
merits. The rate of wages paid to the home help is 1s. per
hour with the following reservations:—
(1) The maximum payment for attendance immediately
prior to confinement to be 5s.
(2) The maximum payment per week to be £2.
The scheme came into operation in the second half of
the year, and during the year one application was considered
by the Committee and a home help provided.
K