ENG-2000 — Page 242

SOCIAL WELFARE

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Residential care is provided for elders who need care in their daily living which can be provided only in a residential setting. At the end of 2000, there were 299 hostel places, 7 537 homes for the aged places, 10 035 care-and-attention home places, 1 400 nursing home places, 3 016 self-financing home places, 476 cases receiving infirmary care supplement and 381 cases receiving dementia supplement. Admissions to residential care services are co-ordinated by the Residential Care Services Delivery System for the Elders. To increase the supply of subsidised residential care services, the Bought Place Scheme for private homes for the elders was introduced in 1989 and an Enhanced Bought Place Scheme was launched in November 1998. At the end of 2000, 3 409 places were bought from private care homes. Another 2 271 care-and- attention places under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme will be provided from 2001 onwards.

The Residential Care Homes (Elderly Persons) Ordinance which provides legislative control over all residential care homes for the elders came into full operation on June 1, 1996. At the end of 2000, 619 valid licences and 61 certificates of exemption were issued to subvented, non-profit-making and private residential care homes for the elders.

A pilot project on the concept of the 'continuum of care' in three residential care homes has begun which will enable these homes to provide continuous care to elderly residents in their familiar environment despite deterioration of their health conditions.

Services for Young People

The overall objective of welfare services for young people is to help those aged between six and 24 to develop themselves into mature, responsible and contributing members of society.

At the district level, 17 youth offices of the SWD co-ordinate and strengthen existing youth groups and community organisations, promote new groups and help them develop programmes to meet community needs.

At year's end, government-subvented NGOs ran 138 children and youth centres providing a variety of programmes and activities for young people's personal and social development. The SWD is modernising the centres to make them more attractive to young people through improving the fitting-out standard and provision of furniture and equipment.

After the implementation of the policy of 'one school social worker for each secondary school' in August, there were 456 school social workers serving secondary school students throughout the HKSAR. School social workers identify and help students whose academic, social and emotional development is at risk. To enhance co-operation among relevant services units and professionals, the department published and distributed ‘A Guide on Multi-disciplinary Collaboration in School Social Work Service' in July.

The outreaching social work service seeks to reach out and provide counselling and guidance to young people who do not normally participate in conventional social or youth activities and who are vulnerable to undesirable influences. In December, there were 34 teams serving priority areas with a higher youth population and juvenile crime rate.