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SOCIAL WELFARE
By the end of the year, the Social Welfare Department and non-governmental organi- sations provided a total of 718 integrated programme places, 987 special child care centre places (including 54 residential places) and 905 early education and training centre places for pre-school disabled children. In addition, the service of a clinical psychologist was provided for autistic children in special child care centres as a special provision. For disabled adults, there were 2 033 day activity centre places which provided day care, daily living skills and work training for the mentally handicapped; 4 155 sheltered workshop places to provide employment for disabled persons who were unable to compete in the open job market; and 2 061 hostel places for those disabled persons who could neither live independently nor be adequately cared for by their families, or who lived in areas too remote from their places of training or employment. For aged blind persons unable to look after themselves adequately or in need of care and attention, 339 places in homes and care and attention homes for the aged blind were provided. In addition, 200 long stay care home places, 809 halfway house places and 110 day activity centre places were provided for discharged mental patients and 21 social and recreational centres were provided for all categories of disabled persons.
The supported employment scheme introduced by the Social Welfare Department will continue to provide employment opportunities for disabled persons. Various supported employment service models are being developed.
To improve service quality, professional back-up from clinical psychologists, occupa- tional therapists and physiotherapists is provided to all rehabilitation day centres and hostels. Other support services include respite service which provides short-term relief to families with mentally handicapped persons, and five home-based training teams which help train mentally handicapped persons as an interim measure while they await placement.
The Queen Elizabeth Foundation for the Mentally Handicapped was set up in August 1988. Its purpose is to further the welfare, education and training of mentally handicapped persons and to promote their employment prospects. The management and use of the foundation's funds are determined by a council consisting of prominent members of the community appointed by the Governor. During the year, the foundation allocated $6.7 million in the form of grants or sponsorships to 21 non-governmental organisations and one government department, enabling them to undertake projects for the benefit of mentally handicapped persons. The fund stood at $108 million on March 31, 1992.
Staff Development and Training
Training of professional social workers is provided by the universities, polytechnics and post-secondary colleges. The Social Welfare Department and non-governmental organi- sations assist in arranging practical work placements for social work students from these institutions. The department, through its Lady Trench Training Centre, conducts 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 increasingly complicated social problems.
During the year, the training centre organised 264 programmes, seminars and workshops for 8 281 participants, compared with 184 programmes in 1991. It also operates a child care