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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (May 24) released the report on the Review on the Implementation of the Integrated Family Service Centre (IFSC) Service Mode with a view to further enhancing the delivery of family services to the community.
Commissioned by the department, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) launched the review in October 2008. The consultant team collected and analysed data and views from a wide range of people, including service operators, frontline workers, service users and community stakeholders, before finally making a total of 26 recommendations in the report.
"Following the comprehensive and thorough review, the IFSC service mode is found to have the general support of the parties concerned and to be considered meaningful and appropriate in directing and delivering family services in present-day Hong Kong. The HKU consultant team recommended that the IFSC service mode should continue to be adopted for publicly funded family services in Hong Kong," a spokesman for SWD said.
"In addressing the needs of specific target groups like single parents, new arrivals, people from ethnic minority groups and deprived families, IFSCs serving them near to their places of residence give them a natural platform for integration with the community. It is recommended that the existing practice of IFSCs in identifying specific target groups in the communities that they serve and providing appropriate services for such groups should continue to be encouraged and supported.
"While endorsing the IFSC service mode as the right approach in addressing the changing needs of families in Hong Kong, the consultant team also noted a number of concerns in its implementation, such as availability of adequate resources and issues of interfacing and collaboration between IFSCs and other social services," he added.
The SWD has accepted all the 26 recommendations and will work closely with administrators, supervisors, frontline staff, service users and stakeholders to take them forward for the continuous improvement of IFSC services in Hong Kong, including the following:
Additional funding for service enhancement
- The SWD will, based on service needs, seek additional resources for continuous enhancement of service and manpower provisions of IFSCs.
Handling of housing assistance cases
- The SWD and the Housing Department will set up mechanisms to enhance collaboration and communication at both headquarters and district levels to address issues relating to the handling of housing assistance cases, including reviewing and streamlining existing work procedures and strengthening channel of communication.
Funding and Service Agreement
- The existing Funding and Service Agreement (FSA) for IFSCs will be reviewed with a view to identifying areas for updating and adjustment as recommended in the review report and to encourage IFSCs to develop service initiatives beyond the FSA requirements.
Streamlining and enhancing service procedures
- The existing practices/procedures of IFSCs will be reviewed to identify areas for enhancement for the purpose of optimising efficiency in service operation.
Screening and assessment
- Existing forms will be reviewed while new ones will be developed for intake, screening, referrals and follow up actions as well as sharpening the assessment of specific types of cases.
Collaboration and interfacing
- Appropriate measures will be taken to facilitate IFSCs' service collaboration and interfacing at different levels, including centre, district, headquarters and community levels.
Provision and operation of IFSC service
- The SWD will continue to seek appropriate premises for the relocation of IFSCs that are inconveniently located or set up at different locations; and
- IFSCs will continue to be supported to adjust their service priorities based on community characteristics and to inform service users and stakeholders of their service objectives and priorities for managing their expectations.
Management and development
- IFSCs are encouraged to continue implementing management innovations and to ensure the provision of adequate training, supervision and sharing for IFSC colleagues and the development of knowledge management.
Other issues
- The SWD will revamp the Task Group on the Implementation of IFSCs with a view to enhancing its role in the continuous improvement of the IFSC service mode; and
- The SWD will take the lead to work with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, non-governmental organisations operating IFSCs and other stakeholders to seek continuous enhancement of family services in Hong Kong.
The review report has been uploaded onto the SWD's departmental homepage (www.swd.gov.hk).
Ends/Monday, May 24, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:26
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