ENG-2003 — Page 246

SOCIAL WELFARE

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with a visceral disability or chronic illness. Furthermore, a respite service for 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 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, medical social workers are stationed in public hospitals and specialist clinics so that immediate advice and assistance can be given to those in need. During the year, 137 681 cases received services from 349 medical social workers.

Services for Offenders

To help offenders become law-abiding citizens and reintegrate into the community, the department discharges statutory functions under related ordinances and provides. community-based and residential services for the offenders. Under the Juvenile Offenders (Amendment) Ordinance, which took effect on July 1, 2003, the minimum age of criminal responsibility has been raised from seven to 10 and the age of offenders placed in rehabilitation programmes run by the department has been revised accordingly.

Probation officers assess the offenders' suitability for probation supervision and make recommendations to the courts. They also supervise probationers to monitor their compliance with probation orders. During the year, 2 591 offenders were placed on probation. Officers also prepare reports on long-term prisoners, for consideration of early release, and on prisoners who submit petitions for early release.

Offenders aged 14 or above and convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment may be placed on Community Service Orders to perform unpaid work of benefit to the community under statutory supervision. During the year, 1659 offenders were put under such orders.

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

The Young Offender Assessment Panel, jointly operated by the department 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 department and the CSD, assists discharged prisoners in their rehabilitation and reintegration into the community. During the year, 441 ex-prisoners were placed under supervision. One NGO is subvented to provide hostel and supportive services for ex-prisoners and ex-offenders.

Services for Young People

The overall objective of welfare services for young people is to help those aged between six and 24 years to develop into mature, responsible and contributing members of society through the provision of a range of preventive, supportive and remedial services.