44
L
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
of the number of cases each caseworker is required to handle according to the approved manning ratio, and the average number of cases handled by each caseworker at present;
of the number of District Social Welfare Offices where the average number of cases handled by each caseworker has exceeded the ratio mentioned in (b) above;
whether the Government has assessed if an excessive workload will affect the quality of service of caseworkers; and
whether the Government will consider providing more manpower in order to reduce the workload of caseworkers; if so, when will this be put into effect and how the Government will determine the criteria for providing more manpower; if not, why not?
Reply:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Annex I shows the population in each of the districts served by the 13 District Social Welfare Offices of the Social Welfare Department (SWD) as at end March of 1993, 1994 and 1995, and the year-on-year growth rates. Annex II shows the caseload and the number of caseworkers in the Family Services Centres (FSC's) under each District Social Welfare Office as at end December of the corresponding years.
A manning ratio of 1 caseworker: 70 cases was set in the 1991 White Paper on Social Welfare into the 1990s and Beyond. As at the end of 1995, each caseworker was handling an average number of 71 cases.
As at the end of 1995, there were seven District Social Welfare Offices where the average number of cases handled by each caseworker had exceeded the ratio mentioned in (b) above.
Excessive workload will obviously affect the quality of service provided by caseworkers. While efforts are being made to provide more caseworkers to reduce the caseload per worker, measures have been introduced to help maintain the service standard. These include the strengthening of staff supervision, close
staff supervision, close monitoring of case management, streamlining of administrative procedures, enhanced skills training for caseworkers and the provision of additional family support services such as family aide and clinical psychology services.