XN000022-1991-12-04 — Page 23

FAMILY AND CHILD CARE SERVICES

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1991

J

22

5.

THE POLICY COMMITMENTS FOR FAMILY AND CHILD CARE SET OUT IN THE 1979 WHITE PAPER WERE :

SERVICES AS

(A) TO

PROVIDE

A

COMPREHENSIVE

FAMILY

LIFE

EDUCATION

PROGRAMME;

(B)

TO FORMULATE POLICY GUIDELINES ON HOME HELP;

(C)

TO

REVIEW THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE (CAP 243) REGULATIONS;

AND

(D)

ΤΟ REVIEW

THE OVERALL RELATIONSHIP

BETWEEN

CHILD CARE

CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS;

(E)

то REVIEW THE ADEQUACY OF RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR AND

CHILDREN;

(F)

TO REVIEW THE PROCEDURES FOR ADOPTION CASES.

6.

THE PROGRESS MADE DURING THE PERIOD IS SUMMARIZED BELOW:

(A)

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION

THE NUMBER OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION OFFICERS HAVE INCREASED FROM 17 IN 1981 TO 59 IN 1991.

(B)

HOME HELP SERVICE

ΤΟ

THE

1983

WHICH IN 1982, A UNIFIED HOME HELP POLICY WAS INTRODUCED, INCLUDED SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED, AND SOCIAL NEED CASES. IN ORDER TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT AND CO- ORDINATION OF SERVICE, HOME HELPERS HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED

AND OPERATED ON A TEAM BASIS SINCE 1983. DISTRICTS NUMBER OF HOME HELP TEAMS HAVE INCREASED FROM 23 IN TO 60 IN 1991. FOLLOWING A REVIEW IN 1988, A FLEXIBLE CASELOAD OF 60-70 CASES FOR EACH HOME HELP TEAM WAS INTRODUCED IN 1990. HOME HELP SERVICE DURING HOLIDAYS AND A FAMILY AIDE SERVICE WERE IMPLEMENTED IN 1991. A DEMAND STUDY WAS COMPLETED IN 1989.

(C) CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS

MADE.

A NUMBER

THE OF REVIEWS OF THE LEGISLATION WERE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS WERE AMENDED IN 1980, 1982, 1983 AND 1986 RESPECTIVELY то ESTABLISH IMPROVED STANDARDS IN RESPECT OF STAFF TO CHILDREN RATIOS, SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

OF OF CHILD CARE STAFF. ANOTHER MAJOR REVIEW

THE ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS HAS RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH NON- GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. AMENDMENTS TO THE LEGISLATION WILL BE INTRODUCED TO CONTROL CHILD- MINDERS, AND TO INCREASE

LEVEL OF PENALTIES AS A DETERRENT ON THE

THE

ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

/(D) CHILD