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The Correctional Services Department (CSD) was awarded the ¡§Total Caring Award 2007/08¡¨ by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service at a ceremony today (February 21), in recognition of CSD as a socially responsible organisation and a caring employer.
CSD has also been awarded the ¡§Caring Organisation Logo¡¨ for the third consecutive year.
Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Kwok Leung-ming, received the¡§Total Caring Award¡¨ from Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Henry Tang, at the ceremony. The ¡§Total Caring Award¡¨ honours organisations demonstrating continual, sustainable and total commitment in caring for the well-being of employees, their families and the community.
Mr Kwok said the award was a great encouragement to CSD and its staff, signifying that the concerted effort and commitment of all CSD staff had borne fruit.
¡§CSD is a disciplined force responsible to the public and we keep the gate in the ultimate part of the criminal justice system to safeguard public order. Our work is inherently a social responsibility. To discharge our duties professionally, we must have clear objectives and a team of diligent staff willing to serve the community,¡¨ he said.
¡§I am so pleased that our staff have the spirit of care and the determination to fully serve those in need in both day-to-day work and community service.¡¨
Mr Kwok pledged that CSD would continue to provide quality custodial and rehabilitative services, and team up with other commercial or social service sectors to build an inclusive and safe society.
CSD staff have a long history of voluntary service in fund-raising activities, crowd control in public events, youth and elderly services, sharing criminology and psychology issues with other organisations, and providing volunteer training for non-governmental organisations.
¡§We established the Correctional Services Staff Volunteer Group (CSSVG) in 2005 to better co-ordinate and support volunteer services from staff members and their families. Good progress has been made over the years and the group now consists of 1,300 staff, including 200 family members,¡¨ said Mr Kwok on the department¡¦s caring culture. Mr Kwok is also the president of CSSVG.
As most CSD staff work in shifts in remote institutions, it is not an easy task to gather them for volunteer work, but Mr Kwok said the challenges could be met by determination and accumulating experience. He added that senior officers were often involved in volunteer work to set an example and motivate more colleagues to participate in these meaningful activities.
CSD staff care about the community and those in need, because they are cared for by the department.
Mr Kwok said,¡§Staff are our most valuable asset and we have placed plenty of resources to take care of them and their families. The Staff Relations and Welfare Unit takes care of staff well-being. A clinical psychologist provides counselling to staff and their families who require professional assistance. Seminars and workshops are also held to assist our staff to deal with stress at work. The CSD Sports Association, on the other hand, organises recreational and sports activities to promote a healthy lifestyle.¡¨
Being a Total Caring Organisation, CSD has satisfied the following six caring organisation criteria:
1. Volunteering: Encourage and support employee volunteering
2. Employee Friendly: Provide an employee-friendly and gender-sensitive environment for employees
3. Employing the Vulnerable: Be willing to employ the vulnerable groups
4. Caring for the Environment: Promote actively environmental protection
5. Mentoring: Share business expertise with non-profit organisations
6. Giving: Provide cash or in-kind donation to non-profit organisations
Ends/Thursday, February 21, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:13
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