ENG-1982 — Page 183

SOCIAL WELFARE

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Following this transfer of departmental responsibilities, the first steps were taken to absorb the work of medical social workers within the regional structure of the Social Welfare Department. Careful study is being made of the best pattern for the organisation of medical social work in the long term, particularly with regard to the work of specialist units such as narcotics and drug administration and mental health services. The number of cases handled by medical social workers in 1982 was 85 650.

Care of the Elderly

Care in the community is the guiding principle for the planning of services for elderly people. The main objective is to preserve and foster the role of the family as the chief supporter of the elderly. A wide range of community support services is provided, mainly by the voluntary sector with the assistance of the government, to enable the elderly to remain in the community. Services include home help, meals service, home visiting, community education, day care and social recreational activities. By the end of 1982, there were 209 home helpers, 62 social centres for the elderly, seven multi-services centres and two day care centres for weaker and more infirm elderly people whose families are unable to look after them during the day.

Provision of adequate housing, by means of a special quota for the elderly in public housing units or arrangements for compassionate rehousing in public housing estates, enables many elderly people to remain in the community without having to seek care in institutions. However, for those who are unable to stay with their families, residential care in the form of hostels for the elderly in public housing estates, purpose-built homes for the aged and care-and-attention homes is provided. Emergency shelter accommodation for old people who are in urgent need of short-term accommodation while awaiting the availability of other long term placement is provided in temporary housing areas and hostels in public housing estates. Special attention is given to organising cultural and recreational programmes or interest group activities to ensure that the residents in the institutions do not feel socially isolated or unwanted. During 1982, 550 additional hostel and home places were provided, bringing the total to 1 352 hostel places, 4 118 home places and 375 care-and-attention home places by the end of the year.

A priority allocation scheme for public housing applicants who have parents or grand- parents living with them will be introduced. This will reduce the time such applicants remain on the waiting list by up to one year. At the same time, to meet the housing needs for the elderly, particularly those in good physical and mental health who can fend for themselves on a day-to-day basis without the need of close supervision in an institutional environment, the government announced plans during the year to purchase flats in private housing developments for four to six elderly people living together in a family environment.

Social Work Among Young People

In recent years, increasing emphasis has been placed on the importance of personal social work among young people particularly those who may be in danger of delinquency. A school social work service provided by staff of the Social Welfare Department and voluntary agencies is now available to all secondary school students and most schools are visited weekly by a social worker. In primary schools, student guidance officers of the Education Department assist pupils with personal or learning problems and these officers are advised and supported as necessary by trained social workers.

A further area in which social workers are active among the young is through out-reaching teams. These teams establish direct contact with young people in places.