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Training.
A certificated in-service training course was launched in November, 1968, the aim
of which is to promote understanding of the patients' illnesses and need. The training
comprises three courses with a series of sessions, including talks and practical work, in
each course. Sessions are attended by Home Helps with similar service and experience.
The stimulus promoted by the courses has already proved worthwhile and the knowledge
gained has increased the efficiency of the service to the public.
Bank Holiday Coverage.
Considerable difficulty is often experienced by persons in receipt of the Homt.
Help Service during bank holiday periods, when the service is not normally available.
During 1968, a wider service was provided during bank holiday periods for the bedridden
or housebound. The "Fish" Church Fellowship Service co-operated to provide
persons to do shopping and visitors to the housebound who would normally have been
left to their own devices. The British Medical Association Telephone Answering
Service (see page 56) provided the emergency link between the Home Helps and the
organiser "on duty".
Dirty Cases.
Cases still come to the notice of the Home Help Service of people who, because of
illness, etc., are living in abnormally dirty conditions and "at risk" to themselves. The
Home Help Service have cleaned 14 homes of this particular type, using modern
cleaning equipment provided by the Health Department. Home Helps who work in a
team to carry out this type of work, do so from a sense of dedication.
Mayoral Visit.
During 1968, the Mayoress visited some of the Home Helps working in various
parts of the Borough. The kind attention received from her thrilled the elderly patients
and certainly boosted the morale of the Home Help Service.
Good Neighbour Service.
A good neighbour scheme is operated to supplement the home help service thus
saving wastage of valuable home help time. Good neighbours help the aged and
chronic sick by doing daily chores such as shopping, cooking, seeing to fires or other
forms of heating and various other necessary daily duties. The good neighbours are
paid from 10/- to £2 per week according to the extent of the duties allocated by the
Home Help Organiser.
Cases receiving the Good Neighbour service are excluded from the above figures
and are set out below : —
Chronic sick (aged under 65) 6
Chronic sick over 65 85
Total cases helped 91
My sincere thanks are due to the voluntary organisations in the Borough, too
numerous to mention by name, who have been most helpful throughout the year to the
Home Help Organiser. Many homes have been redecorated by various youth organisations,
shopping undertaken and help in all sorts of ways given in the many emergencies
which arise in a service provided for the needs of the sick and elderly.
Night "Sitters-In" Service.
This service, which commenced in 1967, provides assistance during the night for
emergency cases. Help is provided where either no relative or neighbour is immediately
available or where relief can be given to relatives who have been caring for chronically
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