WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1982
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THIS HAS BEEN AMPLY BORNE OUT BY THE OCCASIONAL REPORTINGS BY THE NEWS MEDIA, HE ADDED.
IN ANALYSING THE VARIOUS FACTORS ATTRIBUTED TO CHILD ABUSE, DR HO FELT THAT CHILD PROTECTIVE MEASURES MUST BE TAILORED IN ACCORDANCE WITH EACH FAMILY'S INDIVIDUAL BACKGROUND AND CHARACTERISTICS.
THE FOREMOST AIM OF THESE PROTECTIVE SERVICES IS NOT TO PUNISH THE ABUSING PARENTS NOR TO DIVIDE THE FAMILY.
+ INSTEAD, THEY SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO ENHANCE THE PARENTS' ABILITY TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.+
DR HO ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT PROFESSIONALS IN ALLIED DISCIPLINES ARE STILL UNCERTAIN OF THE EXISTING PROCEDURES IN HANDLING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CASES AND IN APPLYING FOR A CARE AND PROTECTION ORDER.
HE CALLED FOR PERIODIC SEMINARS AND SHOWS TO PUBLICISE THESE PROCEDURES TO ALL PERSONNEL WORKING IN THE CHILD WELFARE FIELD.
+THE MOST CRUCIAL THING IS TO DESIGNATE A FAMILY SERVICES SOCIAL WORKER IN EACH DISTRICT, TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CO-ORDINATING AND FOLLOWING UP ACTION UNTIL THE PARENTS CONCERNED ARE CONSIDERED FIT TO RESUME CARE OF THEIR CHILD, HE ADDED.
TURNING TO THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, DR HO SUGGESTED A NUMBER OF MEASURES TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM.
FIRST, HE SAID, THE CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF FIELD TEACHING IN SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION SEVERELY RESTRICTS THE OUTPUT CAPACITY OF THE TRAINING PROBLEM.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD THEREFORE FOCUS ITS DELIBERATIONS ON MINIMISING THE EFFECTS OF THIS TRAINING BOTTLENECK WHEN MAKING ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO EXPAND STUDENT ENROLMENT.
SECONDLY, DR HO CALLED FOR A FINER RE-DEFINITION OF THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CERTAIN SOCIAL WORK POSTS SO AS TO REDEPLOY A NUMBER OF GRADUATE SOCIAL WORKERS TO OTHER POSTS WHICH GENUINELY REQUIRE THIS LEVEL OF ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION,
TO INDUCE GRADUATE SOCIAL WORKERS TO STAY ON TO PROVIDE DIRECT AND SPECIALIST SERVICES, HE SUGGESTED THAT A NEW RANK OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTITIONER BE CREATED.
THIRDLY, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO LENGTHEN THE SALARY SCALE OF THE ASSISTANT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER RANK (ASWO), EXPAND ITS PROMOTION PROSPECTS AND IMPROVE THE FRINGE BENEFITS FOR PRACTITIONERS IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO PREVENT TRAINED PERSONNEL FROM DROPPING OUT OF THE PROFESSION.
/FOURTHLY, DR
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