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MONDAY, JULY 1, 1985
AT PRESENT THE SERVICES AVAILABLE INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL CRECHES AND NURSERIES, RECEPTION CENTRES, CHILDREN'S HOMES, BOYS' AND GIRLS' HOMES, SMALL GROUP HOMES AND FOSTER CARE.
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ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE SUBVENTED SECTOR, HAD FROM TIME TO TIME EXAMINED CERTAIN ASPECTS OF RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE SERVICES, NO SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF THE PLACEMENTS OF CHILDREN IN RESIDENTIAL CARE HAS BEEN UNDERTAKEN IN RECENT YEARS.
IT IS NOW FELT THAT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT TO DETERMINE OVERALL POLICIES ON RESIDENTIAL CHILD CARE AND TO ADVISE ON THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN REQUIRING CARE OUTSIDE THEIR FAMILY HOMES RECEIVE THE MOST APPROPRIATE FORM OF PLACEMENT.
THE WORKING GROUP WILL BE CHAIRED BY A MEMBER OF SWAC, AND MEMBERSHIP WILL INCLUDE ONE OR TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF SWAC, SOCIAL WORKERS INVOLVED IN THE PROVISION OF CHILD CARE SERVICES AND PROFESSIONALS IN RELATED DISCIPLINES SUCH AS PAEDIATRICS OR PSYCHIATRY.
OFFICIALS FROM THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED.
THE SWAC ALSO ENDORSED A PROPOSAL TO REVISE THE PLANNING RATIO FOR CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES FROM THE EXISTING FOUR PLACES PER THOUSAND ELDERLY POPULATION ABOVE THE AGE OF 60 TO FIVE PLACES PER THOUSAND.
THE REVISION WAS BASED ON A SURVEY OF THE NUMBER OF CASES ON THE CENTRAL WAITING LIST FOR CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES, AND ALSO TOOK INTO ACCOUNT THE HIDDEN DEMAND FOR SUCH SERVICES.
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE ALREADY EXTREMELY INVOLVED IN THE PROVISION OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, AND IT IS NOT ENVISAGED THAT THERE WILL BE ANY DIFFICULTY IN ATTRACTING SPONSORSHIP TO MEET THE REVISED PLANNING TARGET.
THE SWAC ALSO DISCUSSED A PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO PROTECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. MEMBERS' VIEWS WILL BE CONVEYED TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY WHO IS THE RESPONSIBLE POLICY SECRETARY FOR CONSIDERATION.
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