FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1984
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THERE ARE SIX SPECIFIC AREAS OF WELFARE SERVICE - SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS, FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES, SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, THE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY CENTRES AND OTHER COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES, SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.
THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTRIBUTION IN THESE AREAS WAS CONCENTRATED MAINLY IN SERVICES WHERE THERE WAS A STATUTORY LEGAL ELEMENT, SUCH AS THE PROBATION SERVICE, REMAND HOMES AND REFORMATORY SCHOOLS, THE OVERSEAS ADOPTION SERVICE AND SOME FAMILY CASEWORK CENTRES WHICH DEALT WITH CHILD ABUSE AND CARE AND PROTECTION CASES.
+ IN SOME AREAS WHERE THERE IS NO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT, THE DEPARTMENT UNDERTAKES TO PROVIDE SOME SERVICES SO THAT AS IT WERE, WE CAN KEEP OUR HAND IN AND NOT LOSE TOUCH WITH DEVELOPMENTS, HE SAID.
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+ IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS, SINCE AN IMPORTANT
DEPARTMENTAL FUNCTION IS THE EVALUATION OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AS A BASIS FOR THE ALLOCATION OF SUBVENTIONS, AND WE CAN HARDLY DO THIS EFFECTIVELY IF WE HAVE NO DIRECT EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING SUCH SERVICES, HE ADDED.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE PARTICULARLY ACTIVE IN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, BOTH RESIDENTIAL HOMES AND HOSTELS OF VARIOUS TYPES AND OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS HOME HELP AND SOCIAL CENTRES.
IN 1984-85, THE DEPARTMENT EXPECTED TO PROVIDE RECURRENT SUBVENTIONS FOR 12 NEW SOCIAL CENTRES, THREE CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES AND SIX HOSTELS FOR THE ELDERLY, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 1 200 RESIDENTIAL PLACES.
MR CHAMBERS GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT WE SHALL BE MOVING AHEAD IN THE COMING YEAR WITH EXPANSION PLANS IN MOST SERVICES.+
MR CHAMBERS SAID ALSO THAT THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED STAFF WAS A PROBLEM FACED BY WELFARE SERVICES.
THE VERY RAPID EXPANSION OF SERVICES HAD MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS TO MATCH THE DEMAND FOR TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS.
MOST OF THE INSTITUTIONS ARE EXPANDING THE NUMBERS ON THEIR COURSES AND THE NEW CITY POLYTECHNIC WILL ALSO BE STARTING A DIPLOMA COURSE IN SOCIAL WORK THIS AUTUMN.
+TO TRY TO TAP A NEW SOURCE OF GRADUATE SOCIAL WORKERS, WE HAVE RECENTLY DECIDED TO TAKE IN GRADUATES IN SUBJECTS OTHER THAN SOCIAL WORK, ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY WILL TAKE PART- TIME COURSES LEADING TO POST-GRADUATE SOCIAL WORK QUALIFICATIONS, + HE SAID.
/THE FIRST