ENG-2002 — Page 244

SOCIAL WELFARE

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Professional Back-up and Support Services

Professional back-up services from clinical psychologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists are provided for people with disabilities in rehabilitation day centres and hostels. Support services such as home-based training and support service for mentally handicapped persons, after-care service for dischargees of halfway houses, domiciliary occupational therapy service, and the community rehabilitation network for persons with a visceral disability or chronic illness are provided in the community. Furthermore, respite service for mentally handicapped persons, occasional child care service for disabled pre-schoolers and six parents resource centres are provided to meet the special needs of families with disabled members.

Medical Social Services

Medical social workers (MSWs) provide patients and their families with individual and group counselling, financial aid, housing assistance or referral to other community resources to facilitate their treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration into society. To provide easy access to patients and their family members, MSWs are stationed in public hospitals and specialist clinics so that immediate advice and assistance can be given to those in need. In 2002, 148 680 cases received services from 361 MSWs.

Services for Offenders

To help offenders become law-abiding citizens and reintegrate into the community, the SWD discharges statutory functions in respect of related ordinances and provides community-based and residential services for the offenders.

The probation service serves offenders aged seven and above. Probation officers assess the offenders' suitability for probation supervision and make recommendations to the courts. They also supervise the probationers to see that they comply with probation orders. In 2002, 2 757 offenders were placed on probation. Officers also prepare reports on long-term prisoners for consideration of early release as well as on prisoners who submit petitions for early release.

Offenders aged 14 and above and convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment may be placed on Community Service Orders which require offenders to perform unpaid work of benefit to the community and to receive guidance from probation officers. During the year, 1 860 offenders were put under such orders.

Seven residential homes, with a total capacity of 440 places, provide educational, prevocational and character training for children and juveniles with behavioural or family problems and young offenders.

The Young Offender Assessment Panel, jointly operated by the SWD and the Correctional Services Department (CSD), provides the courts with coordinated professional views on sentencing options for young offenders aged 14 to under 25.

The Post-Release Supervision of Prisoners Scheme, another joint service of the SWD and the CSD, assists discharged prisoners in their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. During the year, 465 ex-prisoners were placed under supervision. One subvented NGO provides hostel and supportive services for ex-prisoners.