SOCIAL WELFARE
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Staff Development
Training of professional social workers is provided by the universities, polytechnics and post-secondary colleges. The Social Welfare Department and non-governmental organisations assist in the provision of practical work placements for social work students from these institutions. The department, through its Lady Trench Training Centre, provides various types of in-service training programmes such as orientation courses for newly-recruited staff, basic social work training for non-professional grade staff, induction training for staff transferred to a new service area and staff development programmes to provide knowledge and skills in helping staff handle the increasingly complicated social problems.
During the year, the Training Centre organised 184 programmes, seminars and workshops for 5 574 participants, compared with 172 in 1990. It also operates a child care centre for 113 children aged between two and six years which serves as a training ground for child care centre workers.
To equip staff with updated and specialised skills in the various fields of professional practice, the department sponsors experienced staff to attend advanced local and overseas training courses and international conferences. During the year, 193 staff attended 41 such courses and conferences.
The Social Work Training Fund continues to provide financial assistance for individuals to pursue social work training in Hong Kong or overseas. In 1991, a total of 67 applicants were awarded either full or partial grants. It also provides funding support for other purposes, such as financing overseas experts to provide training and consultation, and the printing of resource training materials for social workers in Hong Kong.
Research and Statistics
The Research and Statistics Section provides a support service to the department by preparing estimates, conducting surveys, and developing and maintaining data systems. Seven 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 nine other data systems, these being the Integrated Law and Order Statistical System on offenders under the charge of the department, Street Sleepers Registry, Planned Welfare Projects Registry, Child Protection Registry, and five central referral systems for placement in institutions for the elderly, the disabled pre-schoolers, mentally retarded physically handicapped adults, discharged mental patients, and aged blind.
Subvention and Evaluation
Financial assistance is given to enable 160 non-governmental organisations to provide social welfare services in accordance with government policies. Financial assistance for capital and special expenditure is usually provided through the Lotteries Fund.
The Evaluation Unit of the department is responsible for monitoring and assessing services provided by subvented non-governmental organisations. For this purpose, departmental staff make regular visits to the agencies which are in turn required to submit service statistics at specified intervals. Where appropriate, findings are submitted to the