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May 2023Invitation for Proposals of designated Hotline for Carer Support (Carer Hotline)

The Social Welfare Department is now inviting eligible non-governmental organisations and bona-fide non-profit making charitable organisation granted a tax-exemption status under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112) to submit proposal(s) for operating the designated Hotline for Carer Support (Carer Hotline).  The closing date and time for submission for proposal(s) is on 16 June 2023 (Friday) at 5:00 p.m.

For more information about this invitation for proposals, please click here.

Briefing Session on Invitation for designated Hotline for Carer Support (Carer Hotline)

Social Welfare Department conducted the above briefing session on 25 May 2023. The “PowerPoint Slides” and “Summary of Questions and Answers” of the session (English version only) can be downloaded here:

1.PowerPoint Slides

2.Summary of Questions and Answers

For further enquiries, you may contact:
Ms CHAN Yee-lee, Elaine
Senior Social Work Officer (Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services)3
Tel. No. 3468 2429

or

Ms TONG Man-yee, Mandy
Social Work Officer (Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services)6
Tel. No. 3468 2455
May 2023Invitation to the briefing session of the fifth batch application of The Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities (Arts Fund)

The fifth batch of application of the Arts Fund will be open for applications on 2 June 2023 (Friday).  Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) granted tax exemption status under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap 112), with at least two years of experience in organising structured arts activities or training programmes for persons with disabilities (PWDs) may make applications.  The deadline for submission of applications is 18 August 2023 (Friday).

There are 2 tiers of projects under the Arts Fund.  Tier One projects include the provision of elementary and continuing arts programmes that enhance arts knowledge of PWDs, foster their interests in arts and develop their potential while Tier Two projects aim at provide funding support to applicant organisations for organising large-scale, impactful and sustainable projects which focus on developing individual PWDs with great artistic potential to pursue their career in performing, visual or creative arts and to enable them to strive for excellence.

The Secretariat to the Arts Fund is now inviting eligible organisations to attend an online briefing session to acquire more information and gain a deeper understanding of the application procedures and requirements of the Arts Fund, points to note as well as better utilization of the Fund.


Details of the online briefing session are as follows:
Date:   9 June 2023 (Friday)
Time:   10:30 a.m - 12:00 n.n.
Quota:    Two representatives from each organisation

Interested organisations may visit the SWD website (www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_supportser/sub_adfpd/) to download and return the completed reply slip to the Secretariat to the Arts Fund by 5 June 2023 (Monday) 5pm by email (email address: eoiiartsfund@swd.gov.hk
May 2023Additional and Planned Places of Rehabilitation Services

Information on additional and planned places of rehabilitation services for the period of April 2023 to June 2023 has been announced.  Please download the information here.
May 2023"Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes"(Special Scheme) First-round application (From 19.6.2023 to 3.7.2023)

The first-round application of the Special Scheme will start soon with about 1,000 quotas for importation of care workers for residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities and nursing homes to apply.  Details are as follows:
 
Dates of Accepting Applications: From 19.6.2023 (Monday) to 3.7.2023 (Monday)
Methods for Submission: By Post, by Hand and through E-form
Address: Contract Management Section (Oi Kwan Road Office),
Social Welfare Department,
Room 306, 3/F, Lady Trench Training Centre, 44 Oi Kwan Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Time for submission of applications by hand : 9:00 am to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Monday to Friday except public holidays)
Time for submission of applications by post: Anytime within 19.6.2023 (Monday) to 3.7.2023 (Monday) (dated by the postmark)
Time for submission of applications through e-form: Anytime within 19.6.2023 (Monday) 9:00 a.m. to 3.7.2023 (Monday) 5:00p.m. (dated by the e-form submission record)

The hyperlink of E-form for online application will be provided later.

For details about the Special Scheme and the latest median monthly wages of care workers in Hong Kong, please click [here].
May 2023Invitation for Application of the Ninth Tranche of the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care

The Ninth Tranche of Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care (I&T Fund) is open for application on 22 May 2023.  

For application details, please click here.
May 2023Announcement of the Result of Invitation for Proposals of the Pilot Project on Integrated Community Rehabilitation Centre (ICRC)

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has earlier invited eligible non-governmental organisations to submit proposals to operate the Pilot Project on Integrated Community Rehabilitation Centre (ICRC).  A Vetting Committee (VC) was set up to conduct assessment of all the proposals received.  Upon the recommendations of the VC, SWD has selected Christian Family Service Centre and SAHK to operate the ICRC in Kowloon East Region and New Territories West Region respectively.
May 2023Announcement of the Result of Invitation for Proposals to Operate a Subvented Day Care Centre for the Elderly

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has earlier invited eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to submit proposals to operate a new Day Care Centre for the Elderly (DE) (40 places) at G/F, Treasury Building, 3 Tonkin Street West, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon. A Vetting Committee (VC) was set up to conduct assessment of all the proposals received. Upon the recommendations of the VC, SWD has selected St. James' Settlement to operate the DE.
May 2023Announcement of the Result of the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care

The results of the first cluster of approved applications for Tranche 8 of the Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care has been released.  For details, please click here.
May 2023Invitation for eligible elderly persons to apply for the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly

The Residential Care Service Voucher (RCSV) Scheme for the Elderly (the Scheme), adopting the "money-following-the-user" principle, provides an additional choice for elderly persons in need of residential care services and waitlisted for care-and-attention (C&A) places on the Central Waiting List (CWL).  Starting from 22 August 2022, the Scheme is open to applications from all eligible elderly persons and the relevant application form can be downloaded from the SWD website.  Besides, SWD will send invitation letters to eligible elderly persons who are newly registered on the CWL to apply for RCSVs.  For eligible elderly persons newly registered on the CWL but not having received the invitation letters, please contact the Residential Care Service Voucher Office for enquiry.  For more information about the Scheme, please click here.
May 2023Invitation of Eligible Residential Care Homes for the Elderly to Apply for Joining the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) now invites operators of eligible residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) to apply for participating in the Residential Care Service Voucher (RCSV) Scheme for the Elderly (the Scheme) as Recognised Service Providers (RSPs). All RCHEs providing non-subsidised residential care places for the elderly and meeting the space standard, staffing requirements as well as specified requirements in track record, are eligible to apply as RSPs. For details of the Scheme, please click here.

"Invitation for Applications - Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly (Recognised Service Providers)" can be downloaded here.

"RSP Application Form" can be downloaded here.

For enquiries, please contact the following responsible officers of Residential Care Service Voucher Office:
 
Miss May HO Social Work Officer (Residential Care Service Voucher)1 3107 3424
Ms Winnie FUNG Social Work Officer (Residential Care Service Voucher)2 3107 3260
Miss Miranda TSANG Social Work Officer (Residential Care Service Voucher)3 2456 2913
May 2023Invitation for Applications for Joining the Third Phase of the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly as Recognised Service Providers

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) is now inviting eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs), social enterprises (SEs), non-profit-making organisations, private organisations, medical/rehabilitation service operators and licensed private hospitals to submit applications for joining the Third Phase of the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly (the Pilot Scheme) as Recognised Service Providers (RSPs). 

An eligible applicant for RSP should meet one of the following conditions listed below –

a. a NGO/SE [being a bona fide non-governmental and non-profit-making organisation, charitable institution, or trust of a public character that is exempt from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112)] or a private organisation with proven experience of directly providing elderly care services, either community care services (CCS) or residential care service, for a continuous period of at least six months immediately preceding the submission date of application; or
b. a medical/rehabilitation service operator with proven experience of directly providing CCS for a continuous period of at least six months immediately preceding the submission date of application; or
c. a licensed private hospital.

The CCS provided by the applicant should cover at least two types of core care services.  Types of core care services refer to (i) rehabilitation exercise provided by physiotherapist/occupational therapist; (ii) special/basic nursing care provided by registered/enrolled nurse; and (iii) personal care (including food-feeding, transfer, showering/bathing, toileting/diaper changing, changing of clothes, meals delivery, home making, escort, etc.) provided by health worker/personal care worker.

The eligible NGOs, non-profit-making organisations and SEs can also apply for a one-off seed money for purchase of vehicle as well as furniture and equipment needed for service operation.

Please click here for downloading the Service Specifications on the Pilot Scheme, RSP Application Form, Application Form for Seed Money and the slides (Chinese version only) of the Briefing Session on this invitation held on 30 June 2022.

For details of the Pilot Scheme, please click here.

For enquiries, please contact Miss Jess LEUNG (Tel. No.: 3107 2168), Mr Steve KUONG (Tel. No.: 3107 3014) or Ms Carol CHAN (Tel. No.: 2249 5266), the Social Work Officers of the Community Care Service Voucher Office.

May 2023Announcement of the Result of Invitation for Proposals for Implementing the Social Work Service for Pre-primary Institutions

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) has earlier invited eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to submit proposals to implement the Social Work Service for Pre-primary Institutions (SWSPPI) in four SWD districts, including Eastern and Wan Chai (E/W), Sham Shui Po (SSP), Tai Po and North (TP/N), and Tuen Mun (TM), from 1 August 2023.  A Vetting Committee (VC) was set up to assess all the proposals received.  Upon the recommendations of the VC, SWD has selected the following NGOs to run the 16 district-based social work teams (SWT) –
 
SWT
Team Code
SWD
District
NGOs
E/W1 E/W St. James' Settlement
E/W2 E/W The Tsung Tsin Mission of Hong Kong Social Service
E/W3 E/W Kwun Tong Methodist Social Service
E/W4 E/W Po Leung Kuk
SSP1 SSP The Church of United Brethren in Christ Hong Kong Limited
SSP2 SSP Hong Kong Christian Service
SSP3 SSP Heep Hong Society
TP/N1 TP/N Hong Kong Lutheran Social Service, the Lutheran Church – Hong Kong Synod Limited
TP/N2 TP/N The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong
TP/N3 TP/N Yang Memorial Methodist Social Service
TP/N4 TP/N Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association
TP/N5 TP/N Caritas – Hong Kong
TM1 TM Hong Kong Family Welfare Society
TM2 TM Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
TM3 TM The Salvation Army
TM4 TM Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited
May 2023Invitation to eligible elderly persons to apply for “the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly”

The Social Welfare Department (SWD) launched the Third Phase of “the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher (CCSV) for the Elderly” in October 2020.  Adopting the “money-following-the-user” mode, the Pilot Scheme supports the eligible elderly persons to age in place by providing an additional choice of community care service (CCS).  All elderly persons who have been assessed and recommended for CCS or residential care services (RCS) under the Standardised Care Need Assessment Mechanism for Elderly Services, and are waitlisting for subsidised CCS and/or RCS on the “Central Waiting List for Subsidised Long Term Care (LTC) Services” without any kind of RCS or subsidised CCS being received may apply for CCSV.  SWD will send invitation letters to the eligible elderly persons direct to invite them to join the Pilot Scheme.  The eligible elderly persons who have not received the invitation letters may contact the CCSV Office for enquiries (Telephone No.: 3107 3013) (from Monday to Friday, 9:30 am to 1:00 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm, except public holidays).  For more information about the Pilot Scheme, please click here.
May 2023Withdrawal of social security payment outside Hong Kong by recipients/appointees of Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme

Recipients/Appointees of the Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme, Guangdong Scheme and Fujian Scheme may not be able to return to Hong Kong as usual to withdraw Comprehensive Social Security Assistance/Old Age Allowance/Old Age Living Allowance due to the novel coronavirus epidemic.  To facilitate the withdrawal of monthly assistance/allowance outside Hong Kong by the recipients/appointees, retail banks in Hong Kong have put in place a special arrangement, supporting the use of the ATM cards (including debit cards and those credit cards with cash withdrawal function) issued by banks in Hong Kong to withdraw cash outside Hong Kong, and allowing recipients/appointees of the above schemes to activate the cash withdrawal function of their ATM cards on the Mainland through different bank channels (including bank hotlines) without the need to return to Hong Kong in-person, for the convenience of withdrawing assistance/allowance outside Hong Kong.   Furthermore, some of the banks in Hong Kong have also put in place arrangements for authorizing the banks through remote channels including by post to arrange remittance, so as to facilitate the recipients/appointees of the above schemes to establish standing instructions for banks to remit monthly assistance/allowance to their designated bank accounts on the Mainland without the need to return to Hong Kong in-person. For details, please click the links below:
 
(The Hong Kong Association of Banks website - ATM cash withdrawal service outside Hong Kong)
https://www.hkab.org.hk/DisplayArticleAction.do?sid=5&ss=7&lang=en

(List of banks providing ATM cash withdrawal service outside Hong Kong)
https://www.hkab.org.hk/download.jsp?isTemp=N&section_id=5&file_name=Activation of Capability of ATM Cash Withdrawal Outside HK.pdf

(The Hong Kong Association of Banks website - authorizing banks through remote channels to arrange remittance)
https://www.hkab.org.hk/DisplayArticleAction.do?sid=5&ss=23&lang=en

(List of banks supporting authorization through remote channels to arrange remittance)
https://www.hkab.org.hk/download.jsp?isTemp=N&section_id=5&file_name=Standing Instruction.pdf
May 2023Support Programme for Employees with Disabilities open for applications all year round

For details of the SPED and application eligibility, please click here.

http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_rehab/sub_listofserv/id_vocational/id_sped/