(v) The Special Welfare Services Section is responsible for the registration of the blind, the deaf, the physically or mentally handicapped and the aged; for casework and the organization of clubs and vocational training classes as a first stage in the rehabilitation of the handicapped; for liaison with voluntary agencies working in these fields; and for certain miscellaneous services.
(vi) The Youth Welfare Section operates children's groups to provide informal education and recreational activities; assists voluntary agencies working with groups of children and young people; and operates the community and social centres run by the Department including a number of libraries.
(vii) The Training Unit has developed a series of in-service training courses for staff employed in both voluntary agencies and Government Departments, under the guidance of the Consultant in this field.
7. In addition to its direct services to people in need, the Department endeavours to provide leadership in the social welfare field in improving the quality and training of social workers and to stimulate fact-finding and social investigation; it encourages and co-operates in the extension of voluntary services to fill fresh or unmet needs and in the replanning of agency services where necessary; and operates a limited number of pilot or training projects.
8. Under the Principal Officers serve professional staff and specialist employees. Secretarial, clerical, accounting and office staff complete the establishment. A summary of the senior staff and of the establishment by sections and by categories is given at Appendix 3.
9. Total expenditure during the year on social welfare within the department's purview was, in round figures, $12,000,000, of which sub- ventions to 43 voluntary agencies accounted for $4,000,000, direct welfare work for nearly $4,000,000, and salaries and wages for the remainder. Appendix 4 gives more details and compares expenditure with that in the previous year and with the amount voted by the legisla- ture for the next financial year.
CHAPTER II
TRAINING
10. Previous departmental reports have referred to the need for developing a more comprehensive and integrated programme of social
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