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Applicants in receipt of supplementary benefit from the Department of Health
and Social Security and those suffering from toxaemia in pregnancy receive the service
free of charge. In all other cases patients either pay the standard charge or are assessed
to pay according to their financial circumstances.
The standard charge for the service at the end of the year was 6/3d. per hour.

It will be noted that in the "over 65 group" there is a steady increase in cases being
dealt with by regular visits of home helps. This has placed a considerable strain upon
the Service, especially as recruitment continues to be difficult. Each case is assessed by
the Home Help Organiser or one of her assistants to assess the actual need. During
1969 there was a total of 1,001 new referrals and the total number of visits made by
organising staff during the year was 3,533.
Because of the continued shortage of home helps and the increasing number of
patients the pressure of co-ordinating the help available increases rapidly each year and
the demands on the Organiser and her staff are far more than ever before. In, fact, if
the efficiency of the service is to be maintained, it is evident that consideration will
shortly need to be given to increasing the field organising staff. The importance of
supervision of home helps at patients homes is more than ever necessary to keep the
team support and to sustain difficult cases and those in need.
Rates of Pay
Hourly payment is made to home helps in accordance with the Greater London
Joint Council negotiated rates of pay. Additional remuneration is given for work in
dirty homes and certain cases of infectious diseases. The rate of pay for home helps
(6/57/8d. per hour) does not enhance recruitment and in no way compares favourably
with existing rates for similar work within the Borough.
Training
The In-Service training course progressed and four home helps gained the Councils
certificate of advanced training. Eighteen home helps gained certificates of
intermediate training. A further course for specialist home helps has been planned and
geared to deal with special cases of Families with Problems and Families at Risk. The
aim of the training is to encourage staff to give a better service, improve their understanding
and stimulate interest, give confidence and to show the home help her place
in the 'Health Team'. It is considered that the Home Help Service is an essential arm
of the Home Nursing and Health Visiting Services and the three together provide a
specialised home care programme.
Bank Holiday Coverage
Considerable difficulty is often experienced by persons in receipt of the Home
Help Service during bank holiday periods, when the Service is not normally available.
During 1969, a wider service was provided during bank holiday periods for the bedridden
and housebound. The "Fish" Church Fellowship Service co-operated to provide
persons to do shopping and visitors to the housebound who would normally have been
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