ENG-1994 — Page 243

SOCIAL WELFARE

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Founded in 1968, the Chest is a non-government statutory body. It spreads the donations it collects from the community to 132 member welfare agencies, helping children and youth, the elderly, families in crisis, the handicapped, former drug addicts and ex-offenders who are in need.

The Chest's own costs are covered by endowment funds, interest income, commercial sponsorships and grants. This means, in effect, that every dollar of donation by the public is passed on without deduction to its member agencies.

Staff Training and Development

Social work training at degree and sub-degree levels is provided by five local universities and one post-secondary college. The Social Welfare Department and non-governmental organisations provide practical work placements for social work students from these institutions.

The department, through its Lady Trench Training Centre, also provides various types of in-service training programmes. During the year, the training centre organised 286 programmes, seminars and workshops for 10 107 participants. The centre also operates a child care centre for 113 children aged between two and six years, which serves as a training facility for child care personnel.

To keep its staff abreast of the latest developments in social services and to help them learn specialised skills in various areas of professional practice, the department --sponsors officers to attend advanced local and overseas training programmes and international conferences. During 1994, a total of 208 officers attended 52 such courses and conferences.

The Social Work Training Fund, administered by the department, continues to provide financial assistance for individuals to pursue social work training locally or overseas. In 1994, a total of 88 applicants were awarded either full or partial grants. It also provides funding support for other purposes, such as bringing in overseas experts as consultants or to provide training.

The Advisory Committee on Social Work Training and Manpower Planning, comprising appointed members from different walks of life and the tertiary institutions, advises the government through the Social Welfare Advisory Committee on all matters relating to social work training and manpower planning to meet welfare service needs.

Research and Statistics

The department conducts surveys and research studies, and maintains data systems for the monitoring, planning and development of social welfare services. In conjunction with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, it runs the Social Welfare Manpower Planning System which collates information on social work personnel and on the demand for, and supply of, trained social workers for facilitating overall manpower planning. Other data systems maintained by the department include the Child Protection Registry; the Street Sleepers Registry; the Planned Welfare Projects Registry; the Director of Social Welfare Wards of High Court Registry; the Private Elderly Homes Registry; the Integrated Law and Order Statistical System, on offenders under the charge of the department; and various central referral systems for co-ordinating the referral of clients to different types of welfare institutions.