XN000022-1990-01-15 — Page 25

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MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1990

SWD HOTLINE PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING

* * *

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S TELEPHONE HOTLINE, WHICH PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING AND FIRST-HAND INFORMATION ON SOCIAL SERVICES, ENTERS ITS 11TH YEAR THIS YEAR.

THE HOTLINE RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 14,000 ENQUIRIES IN 1989, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 30 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH 9,800 CALLS WHEN THE SERVICE WAS INTRODUCED IN 1980. OVER THE PAST DECADE THE HOTLINE HAS HANDLED ABOUT 158,000 ENQUIRIES.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE CALLS RECEIVED IN 1989 SHOWED THAT ABOUT PER CENT OF THE ENQUIRIES WERE RELATED TO SWD SERVICES.

65

THESE INCLUDED ENQUIRIES ABOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME BENEFITS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT SERVICES AVAILABLE

FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES AND THOSE PROVIDED FOR DISABLED CHILDREN AND THE NEEDY.

AT

THE

ELDERLY,

SUCH

OTHER ISSUES INCLUDED EMOTIONAL AND RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS AS PARENT-CHILD, IN-LAWS, MARITAL PROBLEMS, CONFLICTS AND BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS OF BOYS AND GIRLS.

1+

WITH

WORKERS IN THESE CASES, QUR SOCIAL

WILL PROVIDE THEM IMMEDIATE COUNSELLING OVER THE TELEPHONE OR REFER THEM TO THE RIGHT CHANNEL FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE.

"SOME CASES WILL REQUIRE WRITTEN FOLLOW-UP SERVICE BY THE RELEVANT UNITS," AN SWD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

VERY USEFUL AS

BE

RENDERED IN A

HE ADDED THAT THE SERVICE PROVED то BE

ADVICE COULD IMMEDIATE TELEPHONE COUNSELLING OR CRISIS SITUATION.

NOT CONNECTED GOVERNMENT

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THOSE CALLS WHICH WERE SWD SERVICES WERE REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

WITH

THE HOTLINE IS MANNED BY A TEAM OF FOUR SOCIAL "WORK ASSISTANTS ON ROTATION FROM 9 AM TO 10 PM FROM MONDAYS то SATURDAYS, AND FROM 1 PM TO 10 PM ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. IT ALSO HAS AN AUTOMATIC RECORDING SYSTEM OPERATING OUTSIDE NORMAL WORKING HOURS.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO CALL THE HOTLINE 3432255 WHENEVER THEY REQUIRED ASSISTANCE.

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