ENG-2008 — Page 254

198 Social Welfare

worker (PW) posts from 2008-09 to 2010-11 in order to help needy young people. aged between 15 and 29 gain working experience and become better-equipped for open employment in the labour market. These PW posts were allocated to subvented welfare NGOs in April to assist social workers in delivering service-related programmes.

Clinical Psychological Services

Working under the SWD and NGOs, 71 clinical psychologists provide a range of services to welfare units handling family casework, rehabilitation and correctional matters. The services include psychological assessment, treatment, consultation, staff training and public education. During the year, 4 155 clients were treated, and 3 005 psychological assessments and 17 242 treatment sessions were conducted. In August, an additional clinical psychology unit under the SWD was set up in Tin Shui Wai to provide more accessible services to clients residing in the Tin Shui Wai, Yuen Long and Tuen Mun districts.

Voluntary Work

The Steering Committee on Promotion of Volunteer Service ran a series of promotional and publicity programmes during the year to encourage cross-sector collaboration and family participation in voluntary work. By year-end, more than 1 800 organisations and 800 000 individuals had registered for voluntary service.

Subventions and Service Monitoring

Recurrent subventions and capital grants were given to 172 NGOs to provide social welfare services in accordance with government policies. Capital grants from the Lotteries Fund were allocated to NGOs on the advice of the Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee. The Service Performance Monitoring System keeps track of the output, outcome and service quality of subvented units according to 16 well-defined service quality standards and specific funding and service agreements for the service units concerned.

Information Technology

In 2008, the SWD continued to develop a workflow-based client information system to facilitate case management and service planning. The system is expected to be completed in 2009-10.

By year-end, about $207 million in Lotteries Fund grants had been approved for 42 information technology development projects in the welfare sector.

Elderly Commission

The Elderly Commission (EC) was set up in 1997 to advise the Government on policy and services for the elderly. Recently, emphasis has been placed on promoting 'active ageing' and advising on the means to further enhance long-term care services. for the elderly.