More Info →Home Aid Service: Brief outline of scope and conditions of service

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT.

HOME AID SERVICE.

BRIEF OUTLINE OF SCOPE AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.

1. CONTROL: The Home Aid Service is controlled by a Government Depart-
   ment known as the National Employment Service. A Supervisor of the Home
   Aid Service is located in the Department’s Head Office and in each of the
   Department’s District Offices where the Home Aid Service is operating there
   is a local Supervisor of Home Aids who works under the direction of the
   District Employment Officer.

2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOME AIDS AND EMPLOYER: One of the major
   differences between the N.Z. Home Aid Service and Services of a similar
   nature which have operated in this country and elsewhere, such as the Home
   Service Associations and other employment Agencies of a like type, is that
   the N.Z. home Aids are full-time State employees and enjoy the same pri-
   vileges as other Public Servants in the matter of annual leave, sick leave
   and Superannuation. The National Employment Service through its District
   Officers receives applications from householders desirous of being assis-
   ed in their homes and allocates Home Aids to the applicants whenever possi-
   ble, after taking into account certain priorities.

3. STATUS OF HOME AIDS: Another feature of the N.Z. Home Aid Service
   which is at present unique is the status accorded to Home Aids. They are
   not regarded as of what might be termed a menial status but are looked upon
   more in the same way as companion-helps, taking their meals with the family
   and being otherwise treated in the same way as members of the family would
   expect to be treated. In this connection, however, it is clearly under-
   stood that their duties are not necessarily limited to those of a light
   nature. They may be called upon to perform all the ordinary tasks of a
   household. Whilst employed in the household they must carry out the
   reasonable directions of the lady of the house or other person in charge.

4. PRIORITIES: In the meantime and pending further expansion of the
   Service regard is had to certain priorities in the types of application
   received. Providing that all priority cases can be met other types of
   cases will then receive consideration and allocations of Home Aids be made
   accordingly. The priorities observed are as follows:-

(a) Cases where there are one or more children under twelve years
of age permanently residing in a home and where the mother or
other woman in change of the home is wholly or partially in-
capacitated from undertaking her ordinary domestic duties by
reason of pregnancy or maternity, or by reason of accident,
sickness, or infirmity of any kind;

(b) Cases where there are three or more children under twelve
years of age permanently residing in the home, and any member
of the household requires special care and attention by reason
of sickness or infirmity;

(c) Cases where all the members of a household of an age or con-
dition to help in the home are wholly or partially incapac-
itated from work by sickness or otherwise;

(d) Cases where the lack of domestic assistance in the home is a
cause of undue hardship.

5. HOURS OF WORK: The Home Aids work an 8-hour day and a 40-hour week.
   Their travelling expenses to and from the various jobs to which they are
   allocated are paid by the Department. In general “live-in” engagements
   are discouraged but allocations on this basis are made when unavoidable.
   Individual jobs may extend from an odd half day up to a full-time 40 hour
   week service extending over two or three weeks. Half-day allocations are,

p.t.o.

Page 2.

however, looked on with disfavour as liable to give rise to a tendency to
an Aid being called upon to perform two full days work in one day.

6. ACCOMMODATION: As already stated Home Aids in general “live-out”.
   They may live in their own homes or in lodgings or if they prefer they may
   be accommodated in Departmental Hostels in centres where Hostels have been
   established. Full board is provided in these Hostels at a low charge, but
   in general the Aids take their mid-day meal on the job on which they are
   working.

7. CHARGES FOR SERVICE: A flat rate of 2/- per hour is payable by the
   householder to the Department for the services of the Home Aid, irrespective
   of the period for which assistance is provided. In view of the additional
   hours of duty there is no reduction in this charge for “live-in” engage-
   ments, which as already stated are only approved when absolutely unavoid-
   able. Whether the engagement is a “live-in” one or not, however, the
   Department will in appropriate cases accept applications for reduction of
   the charge when payment of the full charge would create undue hardship.
   The Department accepts responsibility for any injuries incurred by Home
   Aids which arise out of or in the course of their employment, and it is not
   necessary for householders to arrange for compensation insurance cover. The
   Department will not, however, accept any responsibility for breakages or
   for damage caused by Home Aids in the course of their duties.

8. CLASSES OF AIDS AND SALARY RATES: Aids proved to be capable of taking
   full charge of a household and carrying out all necessary duties are classi-
   fied as Diploma Holders and receive a salary from the Department of £4 gross
   per week. Aids who have not quite reached this standard but are capable
   of carrying out all ordinary household duties are classified as Certificate
   Holders and receive a salary of £3.10.0 gross from the Department. Trainees,
   being person in training who have not reached certificate standard, receive
   a salary of £2.10.0 per week gross during the period of their training.
   All classes of Home Aids are provided by the Department with a badge and
   with free uniforms for wearing on the job to which they are allocated.

9. TRAINING SCHEME: The Department’s plans for the training of Home Aids
   are not yet complete, but it is envisaged that a number of girls leaving
   school at the end of a scholastic year will be requited as trainees. It
   will probably be possible to utilise to a large extent existing training
   course in Technical Colleges and to supplement this by training in the
   Department’s Accommodation Hostels.

. . . . . . . . . .

National Employment Service,
Wellington,
New Zealand.
1st April, 1946.