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The first year course includes conditions of service, the main duties of a home help
and protection against infection: the second year course includes the understanding of
the problems arising from the care of the aged, physically handicapped and chronic sick.
Accident Prevention and nursing help is taught: The third year course is more advanced
in all subjects and includes supportive action for the mentally disturbed and
subnormal.
Six home helps successfully completed the three year course in March 1970 and
were presented with their certificates by His Worship the Mayor, Alderman D. G.
Harris, J.P., who invited them to tea at the Mayor s Parlour.
A further course to train selected home helps in the specialised knowledge required
in dealing with "families with problems" was commenced in 1970 and the six home
helps concerned also successfully completed this course.
1 am particularly pleased at the enthusiasm and interest which is shown in these
training courses which are ably organised by Mrs. J. E. M. Roberts, Home Help
Organiser.
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.
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.
During the year, the Home Help Service cleaned nine 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.
Advice Centres
Advice Centres are now held at certain day clubs run by voluntary organisations
at which the Home Help Organiser or an assistant is in attendance to deal with
enquiries from the public.
Good Neighbour Service

The Neighbourly Help Service within the Borough has augmented the Home Help
Service to such a degree as to have become an integral part of the Service.
An important aspect is the employment of members of the public who would not
normally be employable by reason of age and irregular hours, etc.
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