XN000022-1976-11-26 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1976

SOCIAL WORK A CHALLENGING CAREER

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A SOCIAL WORKER MAKES THE BEST USE OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THE SOLUTION OF INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY PROBLEMS AND SERVE AS AGENTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY OF WAH YAN COLLEGE, HONG KONG, HE SAID THE SOCIAL WORKER SHOULD ALSO HAVE THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY AT HEART AND SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL POLICY TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS.

+ THE FULFILMENT OF ANY OF THESE FUNCTIONS CONSTITUTES A CHALLENGING YET REWARDING CAREER FOR ANYONE WHO WILL CONSIDER CHOOSING SOCIAL WORK AS A PROFESSION, HE STRESSED.

MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT SOCIAL WORK IN HONG KONG TODAY EMBRACED TWO MAIN STREAMS OF SERVICES : REMEDIAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL.

ON REMEDIAL SERVICE, HE NOTED THAT SOCIAL WORKERS' ATTENTION WAS FOCUSSED ON PROVIDING COUNSELLING AS WELL AS TANGIBLE SERVICES TO THOSE DISADVANTAGED AND VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, LIKE THE HAND ICAPPED, THE ELDERLY, THE DELINQUENT, FAMILIES IN NEED AND PERSONS WITH BEHAVIOUR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS.

+ THESE ARE BY NO MEANS SIMPLE JOBS. TO HELP SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS, SOCIAL WORKERS MUST HAVE GENUINE RESPECT FOR PERSONS WHO NEED HELP AND RECOGNISE THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO SERVICE

IN THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.

+TO DO THESE JOBS, SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD EQUIP THEMSELVES WITH ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE IN HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND DYNAMICS OF HUMAN RELATIONS AS WELL AS THE NECESSARY SKILLS OF INTERVENTION.

+THEY SHOULD POSSESS AT THEIR FINGER TIPS A COMPREHENSIVE MAP OF VARIOUS TYPES OF SOCIAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG WHICH CAN BE USED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE THEY ARE HELPING,+

+MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, HE CONTINUED, +SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD KNOW HOW TO LISTEN, TO TALK AND TO PROVIDE MATERIAL AID TO PEOPLE WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF SENSITIVITY TOWARDS THEIR FEELINGS, SO THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE STRENGTENED WITH GROWING CONFIDENCE, NOT WITH GUILTY FEELINGS.+

TURNING TO THE DEVELOPMENTAL SIDE, MR. LEE EMPHASISED THAT SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD BE ENGAGED IN WORKING WITH COMMUNITY, DEVELOPING LOCAL RESIDENTS' SENSE OF IDENTITY, SENSE OF BELONGING AND SENSE OF WORTH.

/+THEY MAY