WED.
NESDAY, JULY 13, 1977
13
SWD MAY BE REGIONAL ISED
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REGIONALISATION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED TO START IN APRIL NEXT YEAR IF THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THE 'GREEN LIGHT' TO THE DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSAL, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE NORTH KOWLOON LIONS CLUB, HE SAID THAT THE PROPOSED STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONSIST OF THE HEADQUARTERS AND FOUR REGIONS - HONG KONG, KOWLOON EAST, KOWLOON WEST AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+ IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES TO BE SPLIT UP INTO TWO REGIONS LATER ON WHEN MORE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS TAKE PLACE, HE ADDED.
MR. SWEETMAN NOTED THAT EACH REGION WOULD BE HEADED BY A 'REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR WHO WOULD BE THE OVERALL ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE REGION IN SOCIAL WELFARE MATTERS.
+HE WILL BE THE SOCIAL WELFARE REPRESENTATIVE IN THE REGION TO THE PUBLIC VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AND HE WILL BE THE EYES AND EARS' OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR THAT REGION. +
IN THE MAIN, HE CONTINUED, THE JOB OF THE 'REGIONAL CO-ORDINATOR' WOULD BE CO-ORDINATION FOR ALL WELFARE SERVICES IN THE REGION TO SERVE THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES DRAFTED BY THE HEADQUARTERS, LIAISON WITH LOCAL VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND LEADERS, AS WELL AS REFLECTION OF CHANGING NEEDS IN HIS AREA.
+HE WILL BE ASSISTED BY A STAFF OFFICER IN EACH OF THE FIVE MAIN BRANCHES OF SOCIAL WORK : FAMILY AND CASEWORK, PROBATION, GROUP AND COMMUNITY, REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL SECURITY.+
THESE OFFICERS IN THE REGIONS WOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY OPERATIONAL DECISIONS AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE WORK IN HIS FIELD IN THAT REGION, HE ADDED. ON THE REASONS FOR THE CHANGE, MR. SWEETMAN SAID: +THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS EXPERIENCED A FIVE-FOLD INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE AND A DOUBLING OF THE STAFF WITHIN THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
+ PL ANS ARE WELL IN HAND FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, INCLUDING REHABILITATION FOR THE DISABLED, SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, AND IN EXPANSION OF YOUTH SERVICES WITH AN EMPHASIS ON PREVENTIVE WORK AMONG YOUTH.+
/WITH SUCH
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