Social Welfare Department - Review on the Implementation on the Integrated Family Service Centre Service Mode

Follow-up Actions on the Recommendations of the Review on the Implementation of the Integrated Family Service Centre Service Mode

	Overview The Social Welfare Department (SWD) commissioned The University of Hong Kong (HKU) to conduct the Review on the Implementation of the Integrated Family Service Centre (IFSC) Service Mode (the Review) in October 2008. Upon completion of the Review, a report entitled ''Building Effective Family Services: Review on the Implementation of the IFSC Service Mode'' was released in May 2010. Following the comprehensive and thorough review, the HKU Consultant Team concludes that the IFSC service mode has received general support from IFSC management and frontline workers, stakeholders and service users as meaningful and appropriate in directing and delivering family services in contemporary Hong Kong and recommends that the IFSC service mode should continue to be adopted for publicly-funded family services in Hong Kong. In addressing the needs of specific target groups like single parents, new arrivals, ethnic minorities and deprived families, the Consultant Team finds IFSCs in their places of residence give them the natural platform to integrate into the community and recommends that the existing practice of IFSCs in identifying specific target groups in the communities 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 identifies a number of issues relating to the implementation of the IFSC service mode and has made 26 recommendations on the continuous enhancement of IFSC services in the Review report. SWD has been taking forward all the 26 recommendations in collaboration with administrators, supervisors and frontline staff of IFSCs and other relevant stakeholders, including the setting up of various committee and liaison / working groups to follow up on the different issues and concerns. Details of the various committee and liaison / working groups can be found below.
	Review Report The Review report ''Building Effective Family Services: Review on the Implementation of the IFSC Service Mode'' can be downloaded here. Review Report
	Briefing Session A briefing session on the Review on the Implementation of the IFSC Service Mode was held at SWD's Lady Trench Training Centre on 25 May 2010 to share the findings and recommendations of the Review report as well as the follow-up actions to be taken for the continuous enhancement of IFSC services. Nearly 300 participants including colleagues from SWD, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) as well as members of District Coordinating Committees on Family and Child Welfare Service attended the briefing. Powerpoint presented by SWD at the briefing session can be downloaded here. (Chinese version only) Powerpoint Document (25.5.2010)
	Report to the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services SWD was invited to report on the findings and recommendations of the Review on the Implementation of the IFSC Service Mode as well as the Administration's response to the recommendations at the meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services on 14 June 2010. SWD also attended a special meeting of the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services on 26 June 2010 to listen to the views of deputations on the Review report. The paper presented by SWD at the 14 June 2010 meeting can be downloaded here. Paper for Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services You may also go to the website of the Legislative Council at http://www.legco.gov.hk/english/index.htm for details of the meetings.
	Committee on Integrated Family Service Centres Among the 26 recommendations in the Review report, the HKU Consultant Team recommends that the Task Group on the Implementation of IFSCs (Task Group) should be continued and empowered with a properly devised terms of reference to give it the necessary mandate to identify and follow up on issues of concern and to bring major issues to the attention of SWD senior management for timely management. To take forward the recommendation and upon deliberation by members of the Task Group, the Committee on IFSCs was set up in September 2010 to replace the Task Group. The Committee on IFSCs is set up to identify and prioritise common issues of concern of IFSCs for follow up and to monitor the progress of the follow-up actions on the recommendations of the Review. The Committee is composed of representatives from the headquarters and 11 District Social Welfare Offices (DSWOs) of SWD, the nine NGOs operating IFSCs, the two NGOs operating Integrated Services Centres (ISCs) and HKCSS. If you are interested in knowing more about the work of the Committee on IFSCs, please click here to go to the webpage of the Committee.
	Liaison Group / Local Liaison Groups on Issues relating to Housing Assistance Cases SWD has set up mechanisms to enhance collaboration and communication with the Housing Department (HD) at both headquarters and district levels to address issues relating to the handling of housing assistance cases, including reviewing and streamlining existing policy and work procedures on handling housing assistance cases. The Liaison Group at headquarters level and five Local Liaison Groups at district level were set up in April and August 2010 respectively. The Liaison Group at headquarters level is composed of representatives from headquarters of SWD and HD, SWD's DSWOs, NGOs operating IFSCs / ISCs and HKCSS. The Local Liaison Groups, on the other hand, are composed of representatives from HD's Estate Management Division and Allocation Section, SWD's DSWOs, officers-in-charge of relevant SWD service units and service co-ordinators / officers-in-charge of relevant NGO IFSCs. Terms of Reference and Membership of the Liaison Groups at headquarters and district levels can be downloaded here. Terms of Reference of the Liaison Group on Issues relating to Housing Assistance Cases Membership of the Liaison Group on Issues relating to Housing Assistance Cases Terms of Reference of the Local Liaison Group on Issues relating to Housing Assistance Cases Membership of the Local Liaison Group on Issues relating to Housing Assistance Cases
	Working Group on Review on the Funding and Service Agreement for Integrated Family Service Centre The Working Group on Review on the Funding and Service Agreement (FSA) for IFSC comprising representatives of administrators, supervisors and frontline social workers of IFSCs operated by both SWD and NGOs was formed in August 2010 to review and propose revisions to the FSA for IFSC, including the output and outcome indicators as well as level of attainment. Terms of Reference and Membership of the Working Group can be downloaded here. Terms of Reference of the WG on Review on FSA for IFSC Membership of the WG on Review on FSA for IFSC
	Working Group on Review on the Operation of Integrated Family Service Centre Services The Working Group on Review on the Operation of IFSC Services was formed in October 2010 to review existing practices and forms / tools relating to the operation of IFSC services and propose ways to optimise efficiency in service operation. The Working Group is composed of representatives of administrators, supervisors and frontline social workers of IFSCs operated by both SWD and NGOs. Terms of Reference and Membership of the Working Group can be downloaded here. Terms of Reference of the WG on Review on Operation of IFSC Services Membership of the WG on Review on Operation of IFSC Services
	Working Group on Streamlining of Procedures for Handling Director of Social Welfare Incorporated - Specified Person Account Cases The Working Group on Streamlining of Procedures for Handling Director of Social Welfare Incorporated - Specified Person (DSWI-SP) Account Cases was set up in March 2010 with a membership comprising representatives from the Family and Child Welfare Branch, the Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services Branch, the Information Systems and Technology Branch, the Social Security Branch and the Finance Branch of SWD as well as colleagues of different ranks from IFSCs and Medical Social Services Units of the Department. The Working Group aims to review existing practices / procedures in handling DSWI-SP accounts cases and identify measures for streamlining the procedures. Terms of Reference and Membership of the Working Group can be downloaded here. Terms of Reference of the WG on Streamlining of Procedures for Handling DSWI-SP Account Cases Membership of the WG on Streamlining of Procedures for Handling DSWI-SP Account Cases


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