XN000022-1981-08-20 — Page 5

THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1981

4

-

INCREMENTAL CREDIT FOR SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS

****

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS PROPOSED TO SUBVENTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES THAT THEY AWARD INCREMENTAL CREDIT TO SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS WHO HAVE HAD ACCEPTABLE RELEVANT POST-QUAL IF ICATION EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO FIRST APPOINTMENT.

IN A LETTER EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE DEPARTMENT INFORMED THE AGENCIES THAT APPROVAL HAD BEEN OBTAINED FROM THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TO AWARD INCREMENTAL CREDIT FOR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE TO SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

IT IS PROPOSED THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT BE EXTENDED TO THE RANK OF SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANT IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

THE DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION HAS BEEN FIXED AT OCTOBER 1, 1981. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE AWARD OF INCREMENTAL CREDIT FROM OCTOBER 1 DID NOT MEAN THAT SOCIAL WORKERS RECRUITED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES BEFORE THAT DATE WOULD MISS OUT.

THE ARRANGEMENT WOULD APPLY TO BOTH SERVING OFFICERS AND NEW APPOINTEES.

+ELIGIBLE SERVING OFFICERS WHO POSSESS SUITABLE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND WHO HAVE NOT REACHED THE MAXIMUM POINT OF THE SALARY SCALE CAN APPLY TO HAVE THEIR PAY ADJUSTED FROM OCTOBER 1,+ HE SAID.

EXPERIENCE WHICH IS IN EXCESS OF THE ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR SOCIAL WORK ASSISTANTS AND WHICH IS RELEVANT TO THE SWA APPOINTMENT AND OBTAINED AT A LEVEL OF RESPONSIBILITY COMPARABLE TO THAT OF SWA IS ACCEPTABLE FOR INCREMENTAL CREDIT.

ONLY EXPERIENCE AFTER THE ACQUISITION OF A RECOGNISED DIPLOMA

OR CERTIFICATE IN SOCIAL WORK IS COUNTED.

*THE AWARD OF INCREMENTAL CREDIT IS SUBJECT TO THE PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AS FOR THE WELFARE WORKER RANK, THE DEPARTMENT IS AWAITING FURTHER INFORMATION FROM THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE ON THE QUESTION OF INCREMENTAL CREDIT FOR RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.

+WE WILL GIVE DUE CONSIDERATION TO THIS WHEN THE COUNCIL COMES UP WITH DETAILED INFORMATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

15