WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989
38
"BUT FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, I WOULD LIKE ΤΟ TAKE TIIIS OPPORTUNITY TO EMPAHSISE THAT THE REVIEW WILL BE CONFINED TO SOCIAL WELFARE MATTERS AND WILL NOT - EMBRACE MORE WIDE-RANGING ISSUES WHICH ARE OUTSIDE MY PURVIEW SUCH AS, FOR EXAMPLE. RETIREMENT BENEFIT SCHEMES, MR CHAU SAID.
"
ON THE QUESTION OF MANPOWER DIFFICULTIES IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD, THE SECRETARY SAID A PACKAGE OF BOTII LONG AND SHORT-TERM MEASURES WERE IN HAND TO TACKLE THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS.
"FURTHERMORE, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR EXAMINING SOCIAL WORK MANPOWER PLANNING AND TRAINING ISSUES WILL BE INVITED IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO TO CONSIDER A NEW SET OF MANPOWER PROJECTIONS. AND WE WILL THEN SEEK THE VIEWS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MR CHAU SAID.
"IN
14
THIS CONNECTION. I MIGHT MENTION THAT I AM UNAWARE OF ANY EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CONTENTION THAT MANPOWER PROBLEMS ARE MORE ACUTE IN THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE SECTOR.
"RATHER, AVAILABLE INFORMATION SEEMS TO SUGGEST THAT AT LEAST AS FAR AS TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS ARE CONCERNED, VACANCY AND WASTAGE RATES IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTORS ARE VERY SIMILAR,' HE ADDED.
11
THE CURRENT MANPOWER SHORTAGE UNFORTUNATELY MEANT THAT SOCIAL WORKERS OFTEN FACED CASELOADS WHICH WERE STILL TOO HIGH. THE SECRETARY NOTED.
"WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO IMPLEMENT FULLY OUR TARGET STAFFING RATIOS, ALTHOUGH PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN SOME AREAS AND FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE EXPECTED.
"QUITE SEPARATELY, A STUDY IS BEING UNDERTAKEN OF PROCEDURES AND WORKLOADS IN OUR SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS AND PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL POSTS FOR THESE UNITS IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.' MR CHAU SAID.
THE
TO
AS
TURNING TO REHABILITATION MATTERS AND COMMENTS MADE ABOUT GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WITH A DISPOSITION VIOLENCE. THE SECRETARY SAID THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE IN THIS REGARD, ENDORSED BY THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE. WAS TO ASSIST THE INTEGRATION OF DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES.
+
APART FROM HALF-WAY HOUSES. SUCH SERVICES INCLUDE VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR BASIC WORK SKILLS, SHELTERED EMPLOYMENT OR ASSISTANCE IN SEEKING OPEN EMPLOYMENT. COMPASSIONATE RE-HOUSING, AS WELL AS SOCIAL CLUBS AND ACTIVITY CENTRES.
"WHILE THERE IS CURRENTLY A SHORTFALL IN THE PROVISION OF HALF- WAY HOUSES, ANOTHER FIVE SUCH FACILITIES ARE UNDER ACTIVE PLANNING. TOGETHER, THESE WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 380 PLACES OF WHICH ONE- QUARTER WILL BE SET ASIDE FOR THE ADMISSION OF EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WITH A RECORD OF OR DISPOSITION TO VIOLENCE. MR CHAU SAID.
/"HOWEVER, COMMUNITY
·
Page 40Page 41