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Review of Residential Care for Children | 31 Recommendations Concluded to Advocate Manpower Increase

2022-09-29T09:55:35.144Z


At present, there are only two NGOs in Hong Kong, namely "Kids' Joy" under the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children and the Po Leung Kuk Infant Group, which have established residential child care centres for children under 3 years old. or not


At present, there are only two NGOs in Hong Kong, namely "Kids' Joy" under the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children and the Po Leung Kuk Infant Group, which have established residential child care centres for children under 3 years old. or mistreatment scandals.

The Social Welfare Department has set up a review committee on child residential care and related services following the child abuse case at Tongleju, and today (29th) announced the first phase of the review report.


The Review Committee put forward 31 recommendations, including advocating that the SWD Steering Team make surprise inspections at least six times in every 12 residential child care centers, and suggested that the staff ratio of child care workers in residential child care centers should be increased from the current 1:6.2 to 1:4.5, and the number of dormitories should be increased. Social worker and psychologist.


The SWD stated that the Government will follow up on the recommendations of the first phase of the review report, and the committee has launched the second phase of the review work on other residential care services for children, including children's homes, boys' and girls' homes and boys' and girls' hostels, as well as non-residential services including Foster care services, children's homes and homes for mildly mentally handicapped children are targeted to be completed by March next year.


A child abuse incident occurred in the infant group of Po Leung Kuk.

(file picture)

▼Children Protection Association "Tongleju" staff involved in child abuse scandal▼


According to the SWD, the Committee has carried out the review of residential care and related services for children in two phases. The first phase of the review on residential child care centres and special child care centres with residential services has been completed.

The committee put forward a total of 31 improvement proposals in three areas: service regulation and monitoring, service quality, and service planning.

Set up a service quality team composed of justices of the peace and independents to conduct surprise inspections

The report recommends strengthening inspection efforts, including setting up service quality teams composed of justices of the peace and independent social figures from different professional sectors to conduct surprise inspections. The system introduces new technology to quickly identify employee misconduct.

Strengthen surprise inspections based on risk, and increase the frequency of inspections at different times.

Social Welfare Department.

(file picture)

Increase the staff ratio of child care workers in residential child care centers to 1:4.5

In terms of service quality, the report recommends to increase the manpower ratio of child care workers in residential child care centers. The report points out that the current staff ratio of child care workers in residential child care centers is 1:6.2, but considering the 24/7 operation mode of residential child care centers and the particularity of services, Therefore, it is recommended to refer to the staff ratio of child care workers in residential special child care centers, that is, 1 to 4.5.

A child protection training course must be completed prior to the introduction of the dean's registration system

In addition, the report recommends introducing inter-professional support; strengthening staff training; introducing a superintendent registration system, formulating requirements for superintendents to complete child protection training courses and continuing professional education before joining the post, establishing that superintendents should assume responsibility for reporting suspected child abuse cases, etc. .

Strengthen recruitment and support for foster parents

In terms of service planning, the report recommends that in addition to continuing to increase the number of residential care service premises for children, the Government should also strengthen the recruitment and support of foster parents to provide more family-style care services.

The target of the second stage review will be completed in March next year involving children's homes and boys' and girls' homes

A spokesman for the SWD said that the Government would follow up on the recommendations in the Phase 1 review report.

The Committee has immediately commenced the second phase of the review on other residential care services for children, namely children's homes, boys'/girls' homes and boys'/girls hostels, as well as non-residential services including foster care services, children's homes and homes for mildly mentally handicapped children. The target is to complete by March 2023.

▼The Society for the Protection of Children released a report involving "Tongleju"▼


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▼The Social Welfare Department will enter the "Tongleju" on January 17▼


▼On August 12, Sun Yuhan, director of the Labor and Welfare Bureau, visited Tongleju▼


One more staff member of Po Leung Kuk Infant Section involved in child abuse Worrying Lin Suwei advocates assessing the emotional health of applicants Sun Yuhan interview | Describes the progress of Tong Leju, denies wrongdoing and does not punish supervision will change the child abuse case of Tongleju | Review report advocates increasing the number of children's dormitory and raising the incentive fund to recruit foster family Tongle Child Abuse Cases|The report was released, and the committee called for surprise inspections: still to be held accountable to the Child Protection Association

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-09-29

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