FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1988
23
PSYCHOLOGICAL INPUT FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES
UP
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL SET
A CENTRAL DEPARTMENTAL TEAM OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS BY PHASES FROM NEXT YEAR TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED PSYCHOLOGICAL INPUT IN REHABILITATION SERVICES.
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR T、H、 CHAU, ANNOUNCED THE PLAN TODAY (FRIDAY) IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HEEP HONG SOCIETY, A VOLUNTARY AGENCY PROVIDING SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN,
MR CHAU SAID PSYCHOLOGICAL INPUT WAS HITHERTO ONLY AVAILABLE FROM FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES.
"THE NEW SERVICE WILL COVER THE PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
AND
"THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS WILL PROVIDE CONSULTATIVE ADVISORY SERVICES TO THE CENTRES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ASSESSMENT, TRAINING, INTERVENTION AND REMEDIAL PROGRAMMES.
"IN ADDITION, THEY WILL PROVIDE DIRECT SERVICES ΤΟ INDIVIDUAL HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHEN THE NEED ARISES.
UP
ON THE OTHER HAND, MR CHAU SAID THAT TO IMPROVE PARAMEDICAL SUPPORT TO INTEGRATED CHILD CARE CENTRES, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD SET A CENTRAL PARAMEDICAL STAFF COMPRISING OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND PHYSIOTHERAPISTS IN PARALLEL WITH THE CENTRAL PSYCHOLOGICAL STAFF.
'THIS WILL EXTEND AN ADVISORY SERVICE TO SUCH CENTRES. AGAIN, SUCH PARAMEDICAL SERVICES ARE NOT HITHERTO AVAILABLE IN INTEGRATED CHILD CARE CENTRES," HE SAID.
SPEAKING OF OTHER TASKS AHEAD, MR CHAU SAID WHAT CAME NEXT ON THE PLANNING SIDE WOULD BE A REVIEW OF THE BASIS FOR PROJECTING THE DEMAND FOR PRE-SCHOOL SERVICES.
"THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES BASED ON ACCURATE FORECAST OF SERVICES," HE SAID,
**THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CO-ORDINATED REFERRAL SYSTEM EARLIER THIS YEAR IS NOT ONLY GOING TO STREAMLINE OUR REFERRAL AND PLACEMENT PROCEDURES BUT WILL ALSO ENABLE INFORMATION ON DEMAND FOR PLACEMENTS TO BE CENTRALISED, THEREBY GIVING US AN ACCURATE IDEA OF THE ACTUAL DEMAND ON THE GROUND.
PH
'SO FAR, OUR PROJECTION OF SERVICES HAS BEEN BASED MAINLY ON THE PREVALENCE OF THE VARIOUS DISABILITIES, NOTABLY MENTAL HANDICAP,"
MR CHAU SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR HAD AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO ADOPT A METHOD BASED ON EXPRESSED DEMAND HAD BEEN USED FOR OTHER SERVICES, INCLUDING SPECIAL EDUCATION, TRAINING AND OTHER SOCIAL REHABILITATION SERVICES.
WHICH SKILLS
"THE MATTER