ENG-1979 — Page 166

SOCIAL WELFARE

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and ill-treatment; and assisting when difficulties arise as a result of mental or physical disabilities, old age, unemployment, desertion, illness or death of family members. Other services include the care and protection of children and young women exposed to moral or physical danger and making referrals for schooling, housing, employment, financial assist- ance, legal advice, medical attention, home help, and placements in appropriate institutions for vulnerable groups. The number of families and individuals assisted in 1979 totalled 18,760.

The department also exercises statutory responsibilities under a number of ordinances, such as the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance, the Guardianship of Minors Ordinance, the Marriage Ordinance and the Offences Against the Person Ordinance.

The School Social Work Service, one of the projects marked for expansion in the White Paper on Social Welfare into the 1980s, is designed to help school pupils whose academic, social or emotional development is in jeopardy. Its objectives are to assist students in making the maximum use of their educational opportunities, to develop their potential to the full, and to prepare them for responsible adult life. The service is provided jointly by the Social Welfare Department, the Education Department and voluntary agencies. Student guidance officers of the Education Department - former teachers who are given in-service social work training - provide these services in primary schools with the support of profes- sional social workers from the Social Welfare Department and voluntary agencies.

During the 1978–9 school year, 78 student guidance officers provided the School Social Work Service to 356 primary schools with a student population of 226,315. As well, volun- tary agencies gave a direct service to 55 primary schools. In secondary schools, the service is provided by professional social workers from the Social Welfare Department and volun- tary agencies. During the 1978-9 school year, the service was provided in 126 secondary schools. The White Paper on Social Welfare into the 1980s proposes that the service be expanded to cover all schools by 1981.

Residential care for children, who are temporarily forced to live away from their own homes because of their own or family problems, is provided mainly through the voluntary sector. The Social Welfare Department operates a children's reception centre which pro- vides temporary shelter and care for normal and disabled children up to eight years who are abandoned, found wandering, or are otherwise in need of care and protection.

The Adoption Unit of the Social Welfare Department arranges legal adoptions for children locally. With the assistance of Caritas and the International Social Service, the department also is able to arrange overseas adoption in accordance with the Adoption Ordinance.

Child Care

All child care centres are subject to registration, inspection and control under the Child Care Centres Ordinance and Regulations. The prime objective of child care centres is to provide full day care and supervision for children under the age of six years, in accordance with the standards laid down in the legislation. During the year, government subventions were made through the Social Welfare Department to child care centres providing 10,999 places. These were for children from low-income families whose parents were unable to look after them during the day. A residential service was also provided for some acute

cases.

During 1979, a review was carried out of the existing facilities for the care and education of children below primary school age. A Green Paper outlining the government's proposals was being compiled and it will be published in 1980.