SOCIAL WELFARE
care centre for 100 children aged between two and six which serves as a demonstration nursery for trainees in child care work.
To equip staff with updated and specialised skills in the various fields of professional practice, the department sponsors experienced staff to attend advanced training courses and international conferences. During the year, 91 officers attended 30 such courses and conferences. The Social Work Training Fund and other scholarships also contribute towards promoting basic and advanced social work training for local practitioners.
174
Research and Evaluation
The Research and Statistics Section provides a support service to the department by preparing estimates, conducting surveys, and developing and maintaining data systems. Eleven surveys were carried out during the year. In conjunction with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, the section is responsible for the operation of the Social Welfare Manpower Planning System. This system collates information on individual social work personnel and on the demand for and supply of trained social workers in order to facilitate overall manpower planning in the welfare sector. The section also runs six other data systems, these being the Integrated Law and Order Statistical System on offenders under the charge of the department, the Street Sleepers Registry, the Planned Welfare Projects Registry, and three central referral systems for placement in institutions for the elderly, the disabled adults and disabled pre-schoolers.
The Evaluation Section of the department is responsible for monitoring and assessing services provided by the subvented welfare agencies. Departmental staff make regular visits to these agencies which are, in turn, required to submit service statistics at specified intervals. Where appropriate, findings are submitted to the Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee which advises on the allocation of subventions and Lotteries Fund Grants. During the year, the department conducted 10 in-depth evaluations of pilot projects and service programmes operated by subvented welfare agencies.
Community Building
A number of government departments and voluntary organisations contribute towards the community building programme.
This programme, co-ordinated by the Community Building Policy Committee, serves to foster among the people of Hong Kong a sense of belonging, mutual care and civic responsibility as society undergoes rapid socio-economic changes.
Community building efforts involve the provision of purpose-built facilities for group and community activities, the formation of citizens' organisations and the encouragement of community participation in the administration of public affairs, solving community problems, promoting social stability and improving the quality of life in general.
The City and New Territories Administration and the Social Welfare Department are the two departments principally responsible for implementing this programme. The City and New Territories Administration, through its network of district offices, is primarily concerned with promoting mutual care and community spirit through local organisations, such as area committees, mutual aid committees, rural committees, kaifong welfare associations, women's organisations and local arts and sports associations. Community centres, run by the City and New Territories Administration, are provided throughout the territory to serve as a base for community building work.