SOCIAL WELFARE
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Programme Plan for the furtherance of the welfare, education and training of the mentally handicapped, and the promotion of their employment prospects.
Staff Development
The education of professional social workers is provided by the two universities, two polytechnics and the post-secondary colleges. The Social Welfare Department and welfare agencies assist in the provision of practical work placements for social work students from these training institutions. The Social Welfare Department, through its training section at the Lady Trench Training Centre, provides in-service training programmes, including basic social work training, staff development programmes, induction training and orien- tation courses for both departmental staff and social workers employed in the voluntary welfare sector.
During the year, 147 programmes, seminars and workshops were organised by the training section, compared with 149 in 1987. The section also operates a child care centre which, besides providing day care for 100 children aged between two and five, serves as a training facility for trainees in child care work.
To equip staff with updated and specialised skills in the various areas of welfare service, the department sponsors experienced personnel to attend advanced training courses or international conferences. During the year, 28 officers attended 23 such courses and conferences. The Social Work Training Fund and other scholarships also provide funds to promote advanced social work training.
Research and Evaluation
The Research and Statistics Section provides supporting service to the department by preparing estimates and conducting surveys. Eleven surveys were carried out during the year to obtain statistical information for planning, reviewing and monitoring various welfare services and social security schemes. The section is also responsible for the operation of the Social Welfare Manpower Planning System, developed jointly by the department and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. The system contains information on individual social work personnel and on the demand and supply of trained social workers to facilitiate the overall manpower planning in the welfare sector. The first report on the system was issued in June. The section also runs seven other data systems, including the Standardised Law and Order Statistical System and the Preliminary Integrated Law and Order Statistical System on offenders put under the charge of the department; the Street Sleepers Registry; the Planned Welfare Projects Registry; and three central referral systems for placement to institutions for the elderly, the disabled adults and disabled pre-schoolers.
A
The Evaluation Section of the department is responsible for monitoring and assessing services provided by the subvented welfare agencies. For this purpose, departmental staff in the district make regular visits to subvented agencies which are also required to submit service statistics to the department at specified intervals. Where appropriate, findings are submitted to the Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee which advises on subvention allocations. During the year, the department conducted eight in-depth evaluations of pilot projects and service programmes operated by individual agencies.
Community Building
A number of government departments and voluntary organisations contribute towards the 'community building' programme.
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