View report page

85
and familial responsibility induced by certain kinds of legislation. The
five great Acts were woven to strengthen and support family life, and it Is
distressing to find that such are the vagaries of social reactions that in
this instance the opposite result is to be observed, for the ready acceptance
of responsibility by the local authority has tended to weaken the
family fabric.
The service continues to meet an increasing demand and in 1952, 738
applicants received the services of a home help as compared with 710 for
the previous year. Of these 738 persons or householders, 348 (47%) had
between 9 and 12 months service, as against 292 (41%) in 1951.
The approved establishment remains at 60 full-time helps or their
equivalent in part-time helps, and on 31st December, 1952, the staff
employed comprised 3 full-time permanent helps and 108 casual helps (including
21 helps on probation and not then registered), a total of 111.
The hours worked by these helps (including allowances for sickness,
holidays and travelling time) are appended:-
Period
No. of hours.
5 weeks ending 3.2.52
10p566¼
4 " " 2.3.52
9,220
4 " " 30.3.52
9,055¾
4 " " 27.4.52
8,32¾
5 " " 1.6.52
11,066½
4 " " 29.6.52
8,l4l¼
4 " " 27.7.52
8,56o½
5 " " 31.8.52
10,856½
4 " " 28.9.52
8„882¼
5 " " 2.ll.52
11,204
4 " " 30.11.52
9,482¾
5 " " 4.1.53
10,651¾
116,010¼
The total hours permissible equal 2,640 per week (60 x 44) i.e.
139,920 for the 53 weeks period above, whereas the hours actually worked
totalled 1l6,010¾, a saving on the hours permissible of 23,90¼
The average number of hours worked per week was 2,189.
TABLE 41
HOME HELP SERVICE
TABULATION OF CASES, 1952
Illness or
other cause
for which help
provided
Period of service provided
Under
1
week
1-2
weeks
2-3
weeks
3 - 4
weeks
1-3
months
3-6
months
6-9
months
9-12
months
Total
Maternity
1
38
—
-
4
-
-
—
43
Tuberculosis
3
2
2
—
7
5
3
12
34
Cancer
—
-
-
1
5
8
4
8
26
Old Age
9
8
8
15
65
44
48
272
469
Other Sickness
5
4
12
9
40
21
19
56
166
Totals
18
52
22
25
121
78
74
348
738