SS4115 Integrated
Social Work
Practice
Au Yin Ting (50577048)
Chan Ho Chit Alson (50558114)
Chan Oi Wah (50465179)
Chan Sin Ting (50568906)
Chow Ching Man (50574022)
Ng Hiu Ching (50386465)
Tang Yuk Yin (50584410)
Wong Hay Man Herman (50592390)
Yau Man Ling (50579030)
Flow of presentation
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History of integration of social service in Hong
Kong
Definition of Integration
Integration in ICYSC
Integration in Youth at risk
Integration in IFSC
Integration in Rehabilitation
Integration in NLCDP
Integration in DECC
Our comment
White Paper- Social Welfare into
the 1990s’ and Beyond

Under the welfare programme, children
and youth services are delivered mainly
through children and youth centres,
outreaching social work and school social
work .
White Paper- Social Welfare into
the 1990s’ and Beyond

These services all focus on children and
youth in the local community and could
with advantage be integrated and
operated on a neighborhood basis so that
young people in the same area may be
served by the same team of workers .
Definition of Integration

Integration is combining two or more things together.
Integration have two main categories, one is involved the
change of quantity before the integration. Another is
involved the change is quality before the integration.

The change if quantity defined as accumulating different
parties to form a bigger one. The change of quality
defined as a complicated change that include the coordination to fulfil the change and entirely new function
after integration.
Integration in ICYSC
Previous Critics before Service
Integration
Fragmentation of services (i.e. lacking
communication among service units)
 Duplication of services or service gaps
occurred
 Problems in manpower deployment
and allocation of resources
 Unresponsive to the needs of youth in
the community

Process in the arise of ICYSCs

1992
setting up of official committee to evaluate the
effectiveness of the previous children and youth services

1994 The Evaluation Report on the Children and Youth
Centre Services in Hong Kong
suggested the ideas of integrated teams
outreaching + school + youth centre
At the end of 1994, 10 Integrated Teams (IT) => pilot






1997
Evaluation on the Implementation of the Review Report
on Children and Youth Centre Services
integrated model is more effective than the previous one

2005.09.01
133 ICYSCs

Start from 1998
The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and
Lotteries Fund Support modernization programmes at
ICYSC. The modernisation works included the use of
more durable materials and refreshing colours so as to
create a lively atmosphere to attract more youth
members

Until now (2006) it is the Third Batch Modernisation
Programme of Integrated Children and Youth Services
Centre.
(source: The Hong Kong Jockey Club and SWD)
Integrated Children and Youth
Services Centres (ICYSCs)
Services:
 children and youth centre services
 outreaching social work
 school social work services
For children and youth aged 6-24
Source: Social Welfare Department
Four core programmes
• guidance and counselling
• supportive service for young people in disadvantaged
circumstances
• socialisation programmes
• development of social responsibility and competence
Non-core programmes
• drop-in service, interest groups, summer youth programmes
and study/reading room service are also provided to offer
opportunities for children and youth to spend their leisure time
constructively.
Source: Social Welfare Department
Other services in some ICYSCs

Overnight Outreaching Service for Young
Night Drifters
Starting from September 2001, 18 Integrated
Children and Youth Services Centres, equipped
with additional manpower, vehicles and mobile
phones, have extended their service hour and
service focus to provide overnight outreaching
services for young night drifters over the territory.
Source: SWD
Other services in some ICYSCs

Community Support Services Scheme (CSSS)

children and youth cautioned under the Police
Superintendents' Discretion Scheme
re-integrating into the mainstream education or work force
and reducing the likelihood of re-offending.
individual and family counseling, therapeutic groups, skill
training/educational groups, adventure activities as well as
recreational and community services.


there are five NGOs operating CSSS and attached to five
existing Integrated Children and Youth Services Centers.
Source: SWD
Children and
youth centre
+
outreaching
social work
Overnight
Outreaching
/+
ICYSC
+
/+
School social work
Community Support
Services Scheme
Service/Workeroriented Integration
in ICYSC
e.g. children and youth centre
services + outreaching social work
+ school social work services
Advantages in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For service user
 promote early intervention, identify those
at risk
 prevent the gap rising between the
services
 Same recognition (as centre members)
decrease stigmatize
Advantages in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For worker
 Increase coordination => workers can
exchange their knowledge and skills
 Get more insights in services providing or
other areas from joining together with
other services’ workers
Advantages in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For service unit
 More flexibility in deploying manpower and
other resources
 reduce overlapping services
 under one management => increase
accountability
Disadvantages in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For service users
 Intergraded services => decrease services
provided for their special needs (especially
for those marginal youths)
 Workers’ discussing time increase =>
delay services implementation
Disadvantages in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For Workers





Irresponsible workers slide their works to other easily
Increase worker’s pressure to complete the resources
within the services in the same unit (especially spaces
and funding)
Higher demands in worker different skills and
knowledge (specialist vs general)
Increase time using in communication and centre duty
or related works => increase work load but decrease
the services provide to some target group (less time to
outreach)
Pressure increase as work load increase
Disadvantages in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For service unit
 Increase time-using in management and
division of labor
 One supervisors supervises more workers
=> decrease the quality of supervision
(now more focus in services provided but
less focus in supervise workers ability and
performance)
Difficulties in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For workers
 Some people found difficulties deal with different
type of services users (e.g. those previous centre
base’s workers do not know how to communicate
with those marginalize youths)

Some workers have their bias towards those
marginalize youths in reality

Conflicts between workers from different services
as there are different working style towards
different services (e.g. those in outreach
sometimes different to those in centre-base)
Difficulties in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For service users
 More conflicts between service users (e.g.
parents do not accept to those marginalize
youths)
Difficulties in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For service units
 Not enough spaces to implement different
services at the same time in the golden
period (e.g. after school time, on sat. etc.)
 Difficult to manage the large team
 Difficulties in allocation of resources to
deal with the different needs in community
Solutions in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For service users
 Education to service users (more
acceptance)
Solutions in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For workers
 Self-learning to equip themselves
 Training in conflict mediation
 Understanding the benefit of integration
 Remind of social workers values and principle
(people is unique and have different needs and
workers should accept to their service users
Solutions in Service/Workeroriented Integration in ICYSC
For agency
 Increase the labour employment to reduce
workers’ work loads
 Set clear guideline to workers in
cooperation with others
 Frequent meeting for workers to share and
clear the difficulties
Profession-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
e.g.
police + social worker in Police
Superintendent Discretion Scheme
Teachers cooperation with social workers to
hold activities for students at school
Advantages in Profession-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
Increase the quality of services as there
are different professionals involved in the
treatment or services provided
 Provide some specific interventions or
services as the hot issues. (e.g. different
strategy in police and social worker)

Disadvantages in Professionoriented Integration in ICYSC
Increase time-using in contacting and
collaborating with different kinds of
professionals
 Increase time using discuss and so delay
the services implementation

Difficulties in Profession-oriented
Integration in ICYSC



Workers said that the cooperation between the
professionals are difficult as they are from
different background and whole different ideas
and values (e.g. police vs social worker) =>
consensus is difficult to reach
There are difficulties to compromise the time to
contact and discuss together
Difficult to set the working boundaries, i.e. to
state clear which profession take charge in
which one
Solution in Profession-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
Hold a preparatory and detailed briefing
and sharing before the service started
 Remind the benefit of integration =>
common goal => aims at helping with
service users

Method-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
Advantages in Method-oriented
Integration in ICYSC




More flexibility to fulfill service users different
needs (social work principle: human is unique)
Help in more effective way (implement group
works rather than only case work)
Keep worker updating their skills and knowledge
(self-improve) in order to fulfill the need
May increase the involvement of systems in
helping service users (e.g. link to parent and
family from some activities or group work =>
increase bonding => decrease delinquent
behavior )
Disadvantages in Method-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
Increasing work load in workers as they
need to prepare different methods
provided to services users
 Increase pressure to workers as the
demand in different knowledge and skills
increase

Difficulties in Method-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
There are difficulties in changes services
method (e.g. more centre base services)
 Not enough space to provide different
activities in limited area (i.e. golden time in
service users)

Solution in Method-oriented
Integration in ICYSC

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Giving training for workers to up-date or
increase their knowledge
Holding joint meeting for workers to share and
learn from others
Regulate workers’ working hours to encourage
them to self-learn
More supervision to workers (this may need to
increase the number of supervisors as after
integration, the ratio of supervisors to workers
decrease)
Agency-oriented
integration
e.g. initiate youths volunteers
to provides services in the
elder centre
Advantages in Agency-oriented
integration in ICYSC
Increase the resources
 Utilize the strengths among different
agencies

 Different
agencies can provide various
resources, like manpower, financial support,
professional or specific knowledge and skills
 E.g. volunteer group (Youth + Elderly or
Youth + Rehabilitation Center), researches
(HKFYG + Universities)
Advantages in Agency-oriented
integration in ICYSC

Reduce the overlapping of the services
 In
the past, C&Y center and school also hold
the social skill trainings in the same district,
the services are overlapped; after integration,
ICYSC can hold a social skill training once for
the same target.
Disadvantages in Agency-oriented
Integration in ICYSC

Increase time-consuming on cooperation
 The
operations of the agencies are different
so that the workers need to spend more time
to regulate and understand other agencies at
first
 Spend time on discussing about the service or
project implement that suit for the agencies
Difficulties in Agency-oriented
Integration in ICYSC

In practical, the workers have many
services (case, group & programme) in
their center so that they do not have any
spare time on coordinate with other
agencies
Solutions in Agency-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
Preparatory information of the agencies
and detailed briefing before the
implementation
 The supervisor in those agencies can
flexibly regulate / reduce their colleagues’
workloads

Locality-oriented
Integration
e.g. 地區青年高峰會
Advantages in Locality-oriented
Integration in ICYSC





Up to date => community need
 E.g. 地區青年高峰會
http://www.hkcss.org.hk/cy/2006%20youth%20summit.p
df
Enhance the cohesion in the community
Increase the interflow with the agencies in same local
Reduce the administration processes
 Easy to referral the cases to get suitable service or
intervention
 E.g. when the school social worker discovers the
student who is lack of social skill, and he can refer the
student to the center for follow-up.
Assemble the resources
Disadvantages in Locality-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
Inefficiently on division of labor
 Difficult to evaluate the service / project
with different agencies

Difficulties & solutions in
Locality-oriented Integration

Difficulties
 Consensus


of the operation
Various service units or workers have their own
mind sets and policies
Solutions
 Regular
locality meeting to increase the
communication between the different service
units
Client-oriented
Integration
e.g. one-stop service
Advantages in Client-oriented
Integration in ICYSC

one-stop service in IT teams
 School,
Center and Outreach teams can
mutually coordinate
 Service users conveniently get many services
in a center
 Diversity and hostile of service (fulfill and
enrich the development, prevention and
remediation)
Disadvantages in Client-oriented
Integration in ICYSC

Learn delinquent behavior easily


all types of services users come together in a
center, also the delinquency
Low integration among the delinquency
and general adolescent
 Difficult
subcultures, lifestyles and behaviours
Difficulties in Client-oriented
Integration in ICYSC

Physical obstacles
 Every
IT team operate a huge area, some
service users live far away the center so that
this kind of target are difficult to interact and
help them although they face the problems
 The workers needs to walk outside more to
touch with the target that affect their daily
work / serve in the center
Solutions in Client-oriented
Integration in ICYSC
The center can establish a sub-base for
touching with the far away users
 Increase the manpower on division of
labour

Our comment in
ICYSCs
Our comment in ICYSCs





1+1=2? >3 some workers say that reality 1+1<2
Government FSA => increase competition between
agencies in the same field (fight for the fund and
member number) => reduce the chances of
integration
May influence the quantity, quality and effectiveness
on services
Now IT team is still in experimental period, no definite
guidelines or examples, lacking practical knowledge
IT & IFSC overlap the services, low cooperation with
the service => fight the market => workload increase
Our comment in ICYSCs





After Lum Sum Grant ＝＞ “換血”problem=> insufficient
experienced workers (may affect the quality of service provided)
Market-oriented service (complete of resources, seems like doing
business)
NOT much differences between the C&Y center and IT team
Frontline or powerless social worker just followed the service trend
(may be from boss, may be from government), but not hold the trend
(牽著鼻子走)
Increase work load in centre base duty and management
=>decrease what workers really want to do => decrease their
morale
Integration in Youth at
risk
The Rehabilitation services for the
youth ex-offenders integrated under
the Shau Kei Wan Integrated
Children and Youth Services
Centre
Process in the arise of Project
Phoenix

1992
First develop of Project Phoenix (PP)
 In North Point
 Supported by other funding
 Cooperation with Police Force
 Casework based, no membership
 Individual statistics submit to Social Welfare
Department (SWD)

1993
Pilot Community Support Service
Scheme (CSSS) for more district, PP responsible
for the Hong Kong Island
 Subvene by SWD
Process in the arise of Project
Phoenix

2002
PP integrated in the Shau Kei Wan
Integrated Children and Youth Services Centre
(ICYSC)
 All the workers in the ICYSC shared duties to
take up PP’s cases and activities for public
youth at the beginning. C&Y workers stopped
to take up PP’s cases after the ICYSC’s
service was more developed after the new
integration model.
Process in the arise of Project
Dawn and Project Solar

1997
Developed Project Dawn
 Generated
with Hong Kong Correctional Services
Department, expansion of PP
 Supported by other funding
 Still under the IT
 Also at Shau Kei Wan ICYSC office at the beginning

2004
Developed Project Solar (same service
with Project Dawn for different target group)
 Project
Dawn and Project Solar (PDS) moved the
office to Wan Chai, work separately from Shau Kei
Wan ICYSC, but still named to under this centre
and service
•
2006
•
PP & PDS under MC’s CSSS
Separated from the management of ICYSC
1990s – 1st stage of integration
(Vertical integration)
Methodist Center (MC)
IT
Project Phoenix
Project Dawn
(Since 1992)
(Since 1997)
Fig. 1
(Simplified
Framework in MC
on 1990s)
C&Y
2006 – 2nd stage of integration
(Partial integration)
Fig. 2
(Simplified
Framework in MC
on June, 2006)
Methodist Center
CSSS
Project Dawn
And Project Solar
ICYCS
Project Phoenix
C&Y
Service/ Worker-oriented
Integration

Unit of C & Y service and youth at risk
service join together in the same service
centre.
 The
services including common recreational
and educational activities for all the youth to
join. There will be also some activities
specialized for fulfilling the requirements of
the probation order of the service users of PP.
Method-oriented Integration

PP & PDS are casework based. Groups and
other activities, like fans’ club, basketball
team, will be held for the service users to
participate.
 Talks
and promotions: Both for the potential
service users and the community to understand
more about the service
Method-oriented Integration

There will be many theories used in doing
the case and group works in this service.
The most common theories are
Motivational Interviewing, REBT,
Experiential Learning, Social Cognitive
Theory, etc.
Method-oriented Integration

Advantages:
 Gain
more funding to support the service, and
for the community education, preventing
drugs taken
 promote positive side of the service users
 eliminate the discrimination towards the exoffenders, like “Love you life” Anti-Drugs Talk
held in the community centre Causeway Bay
by PDS in 10/2006.
Client-oriented integration

Same client, different need

1st stage integration: PP, PDS and C&Y are all
targeted at youths. They have different needs
ICY: Interests
 PP+PDS: Jobs/Study, addictive behaviour
 e.g. therapeutic groups (emotional control)

Locality-oriented integration

1st stage integration
 PP
targeted on the Hong Kong island, while
C&Y targeted on the East District in Hong
Kong island.
 PP was integrated under Sai Wan Ho IT
center because of the locality reason
Advantages of integration
1.1 Flexible human resource to enable
effective resource allocation to service
delivery
 1st
stage of integration:
Some workers did not have concrete C&Y work
(e.g. case/group) on hand when the database of
C&Y are not well established
 These C&Y workers could be responsible for the
cases in PP

Advantages of integration
1.2 Flexible human resource
 2nd

stage of integration:
Different parties coordinates to enable work
complementary within the agency
(e.g. in staff meetings, meetings for team leaders,
annual planning meeting)

Workers in PP participate in C&Y community functions
Advantages of integration
2. More target users could be served
 PDS
as a component in CSSS, not under
ICYSC
 Enable PDS to further develop its own system

e.g. in fund-raising to recruit more workers and
peer counselor
Advantages of integration
3. Workload of the ICYSC could be reduced/
shared
 Past
 Centre in-charge in ICYSC: responsible for all matters,
including ICYSC center-based, PP and PDS
 Present
 Centre in-charge in ICYSC: responsible for general stuff in
ICYSC
 Centre in-charge in CSSS: responsible for rehabilitation
matters (PP) in ICYSC
 Both: directly reported to headquarters
Disadvantages of integration
1st stage of integration:
1. Inadequate room for each components

 PP,
PDS and C&Y serve different target group,
as each components expand, the IT center
provide inadequate room for service-delivery
of each components under IT
Disadvantages of integration
1st stage of integration:
2. Risk of conflicts between target groups

 PP,
PDS and C&Y serve different target
groups
PP & PDS: Youths at risk (edged youths)
 C&Y: Youths

There is a risk when the service-users of PP &
PDS would have affected the atmosphere in
the IT center, which caused conflicts
Disadvantages of integration
2nd stage of integration:
1. Role duplication between CSSS and
ICYSC, on Project Phoenix (PP)

 Before
2nd integration, PP was under IT.
There was a new branch of CSSS formed
(See fig. 2). PP was both under CSSS and
ICYSC. The duplication of role may be
possible
Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
For the service unit: Difference of service
planning views between ICYSC and PP. PP’s
service boundary is Hong Kong Island, and
ICYSC, the planning will be different.
1.
•
•
Workers had to decide how much time and effort
put in the ICYSC’ s activities.
They needed to struggle for the balance of their
duty in PP and the basic duty of the ICYSC.
Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
1.
In the orientation of every staff when they first
attend the centre, centre will pass the concept
of having duty on help the two services in the
centre.
─
Solutions: Workers should have the mind set that
the two services are in the same boat and just the
working methods and target groups are different.
Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
2. The system and requirement’s difference,
workers had to adapt to the new requirement.
For examples, PP at first did not have
membership system.

Solutions: PP created a new system of distinguish
their cases from members to non-members by
charging membership fee, and paying different fees
for the groups and activities their should join.
Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
3. The physical area are not large enough to hold
activities to the three different target groups.
ICYSC’s activities are for all the youths to join;
 but
PP and PDS’s activities are only for the specific
youths to join.
 there are needs for place for different services’ groups
to be held at the similar time in the same centre.
 Solutions: Physically, PP and PDS were moved out of
the ICYSC’s centre, to have their own offices and
centre in other places. This solved the problem of not
enough place for the services.
Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
4. There will be hesitation for the target groups of PP
and PDS to go to the centre combined with ICYSC
to attend the groups.
 They
may not want to show their identity to go for the
service with different and uncommon reasons from the
others.
 The parents of the other youths may also afraid about
their children to meet with some “bad” youths when
using the ICYSC’s service. This can be barrier for the
delivery of the services.
 Solutions
Physically separation of the services to different locality
can avoid to negative influence of the participation of
the activities.
Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
5. There are confusion of the administrative
representative for the youth service and the
youth at risk service. Did the centre in-charge of
ICYSC represented all the services, including
the PP and PDS?
 Solutions:
There was clearer division of
administrative representation. The issues that
concern about the overall youth services will be
managed by the centre in-charge of ICYSC.
 The issues concerned about PP and PDS will be
managed by the coordination officer of CSSS of MC,
which managed the services of PP, PDS and MC
Urban Renewal Social Service Team.
Our comment in PP & PDS

ICYSC VS Project Phoenix, Project Dawn
and Project Solar
 Nature
are different. PP+PDS and ICYSC:
are involved in different community activities
 have different target group
 have different intervention methods

Integration of Family
Service
(Tuen Mun East IFSC as an
example)
Process in the arise of Integrated
Family Welfare Service
In 1970’s
Government starting develop the Family Service
in HK
 In 1980’s
Family Service is under higher specialization
development.
 In 2000’s
Government had evaluated on Family Service
and starting to implement the integration

Integrated part of IFSC
In the past:
--Community Centre (CC)
--Family Service Centre (FSC)
--Family Life Education Centre
In present:
--From 2005, all of the FSC in HK had integrated into
Integrated Family Service Centre (IFSC)
--40 IFSC are under Social Welfare Department and 21
IFSC are NGO
Structure of IFSC
第三層：
非政府機構
推行整筆
撥款計劃，使
資源運用更
加靈活和更具
成本效益
專門服務和危機介入：
如家庭暴力、虐兒和自殺
第二層：
一系列的支援服務：
由發展計劃至深入輔導
第一層：
預防問題和危機：
舉辦宣傳、教育、自助活動
及早識別問題家庭
社署
重整社署架
構，加強以社
區為本的服務
規劃和提供
Service/ worker-oriented
Integration

--IFSC integrate the Community Centre, Family Life
Education Centre and Family Service Centre etc. units
into IFSC.
--Worker in different units in previous day now integrated
in the same working environment and unit---IFSC.
Example:
--In the past, there are one community center, family life
education center and FSC in Tuen Mun. Nowadays,
these centres had integrated into the 4 IFSC in Tuen
Mun: Tuen Mun East IFSC, Tuen Mun West IFSC, Tuen
Mun South IFSC and Caritas IFSC. In the IFSC, it
already provide different services, such as Family
education group and the community group.
Profession-oriented Integration
--When dealing some serious cases in IFSC, social worker, police,
doctor, teacher or psychologist may joined to held a case
conference in order to discuss a case.
Example:
Suspected child abuse case need to call a case conference which
include the joining of police, doctor, teacher, psychologists etc.
Method-oriented Integration
--In the past, Family Service Centre always concentrate on
remedial and intervention focused on the family unit. Workers
are usually more experienced in micro skills.
--Worker in the community centre mainly organize some
support group and program in the community
---After integration had implement in IFSC, the worker in IFSC
need to have multiple intervention skills, that is ability on
handling case, group and program. Under the service
agreement funding, every IFSC needs to achieve a standard
number of the case, group and program.
Example:
A community development activities called “Mid-Autumn
festival celebration” had been carried out by Tuen Mun East
IFSC.
A support group which will held in the Tuen Mun East IFSC
內容﹕透過父母互相交流管教心得, 抒發父母管教子女的壓力及提
升管教子女的技巧
日期:
11/11, 18/11, 25/11, 2/12, 9/12 (逢星期六)
時間﹕上午 10:00 – 11:30
地點﹕安定友愛社區中心三樓會議室
對象﹕二至六歲兒童之家長
名額﹕8 名
費用: 全免
報名方法﹕由即日起於本中心報名
查詢: 2457 4849 周姑娘
Agency-oriented Integration

Recently, case conference within different IFSC had
increase. In the conference, different IFSC may carry out
their difficult case in the conference and discuss in the
meeting in order to seek professional exchange.
Example:
4 Tuen Mun IFSCs and Yuen Long IFSC always join
together to have a conference per month. Each conference
may focus on one topic and every IFSC had their chance to
share their difficult case and seek for others opinion.
Locality-oriented Integration

IFSC had enlarge their responsibilities on the community service
provision. So they need to cooperate with others agency in their own
district.
Example:
--Worker always need to have meeting with the DO
-- “中秋耀屯門” in Tuen Mun had organized under the cooperation of
Tuen Mun East IFSC and The Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council .
-- For some indecent assault, police setting, District Council, Sam Shing
Est Moon Yu Hse Mutual Aid Community etc may carry out some
conference to discuss their assault.
--District councilor in the district always refer some cases to the IFSC
and sometimes may join IFSC to carry out some project.
Client-oriented Integration
IFSC had provided a one stop service for our client. Client can get
different demands and needs such as case counseling, group and
program in IFSC.
Example:
Client can get the different services such as group, case counseling
and community activities within one centre.
Advantages of integration
Client perspective:
 Client can receive the one stop service in stead of the fragmentized
service in different location, it is more convenience for them
 Under service funding agreement (SFA) , IFSC need to carry out
several therapeutic group, client may benefit from it.
Worker perspective:
 It is more easy for different specialist worker to exchange and share
their opinion on working.
 It is more easy for worker to build up relationship with client as more
type of intervention had input.
Agency perspective:
 Arrangement of the human resources will be more
flexible
 More connection with other agency in the same district,
so the resources may not easily repeated.
Government perspective:
 Easy for managing and supervise by government
 Cost effective due to they believe group work is more
effective than case work. So cost can be saved.
Disadvantages of Integration
Worker perspective:

Worker did not have enough time to adjust on using different
skills
Traditionally, a family service worker’s main duty is to help our
clients and their family members to handle their problems. The
service is mainly remedial and intervention focused on the family
unit. Workers are usually more experienced in micro skills. After the
integration, worker need to be multiple skills with case work, group
work and community work. It is difficult for the worker to equip the
skills immediately. It may influence the program quality.

Worker load is heavier
As the worker in FSC only specialist to handle the case, they seldom
need to organize some group.
Client perspective:

Service may not have enough quality
As some of the worker may not specilist in handling of the
group work, they may feel difficult on handling the group. The
quality may affected.
Our comments
After the integration, we had found many advantages that
government reports showed us. However, in the reality
implementation, we found that is was difficult to fulfill the rationale.
There is lack of the supporting and resources for the staff to adjust
their workload and work nature. They lack of the channel to
strengthen their multiple skills.
In addition, after integration, the service achieved area should be
enlarge. For example in Tuen Mun, as there are four IFSC had
formed, the service provision had enlarge into different location to
serve 10 to 15 thousands population per centre. However, the
funding put in the Family Service did not increased. The lack of
funding may affect the service or program quality.
Integration in
Rehabilitation
Objective:
Rehabilitation services aim to acknowledge
the equal rights of people with disabilities to
be full members of the community by
assisting them in developing their physical,
mental and social capabilities to the fullest
possible extent and by promoting their
integration into the community.
People with disabilities
would want to lead as
normal a life as
possible and to
contribute to society as
much as they can.
Source: Social Welfare Department

The rehabilitative welfare services in Hong
Kong are mainly provided by around 50
voluntary agencies and funded by the
Social Welfare Department.
Client –oriented integration in
rehabilitation

The definition of client –oriented
integration is provide One –Stop service
and emphasis the clients’ needs as the
primary target. Therefore, the clients as
the most important factor in this integration.
Client –oriented integration
The purpose is helping them re-construct their
lives as a normal person and help them reintegrate to the society.

E.g. The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation
provided the services to the people who are
disability, chronic illness, the elderly.
Client –oriented integration
Services:
1. Accessible transport and travel
2. Education and advocacy
3. Wellness and community rehabilitation
4. Occasional rehabilitation and long-term care.
This five main categories of services is aimed at help the
client re-integrate to the community and mainly focus on
the clients’ needs . It includes different aspects , like
have education , vocational training and long term
services. It all is unique for every individual and depends
on the client needs .
Source: The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation
Profession-oriented integration

To integrate the professions into the
services.
E.g. A shop called “Support the
Employment of People with Disabilities”
Integrated a Marketing Consultancy Office
to plan the program for disabilities.
Profession-oriented integration

The objective of the formation of
“Support the Employment of
People with Disabilities”
(“SEPD”) are to enhance the
working capabilities and selfreliance of disabled persons
through the provision of training
from a real working environment,
thereby preparing them for
supported and open
employment.
Profession-oriented integration

All the arts and crafts sold in “SEPD” are
handmade by people with disabilities.
“SEPD” is operated by disabled persons
from varied welfare organization and
managed by Marketing Consultancy Office
(Rehabilitation) of Social Welfare
Department.
Source: Social Welfare Department
Profession-oriented integration
Other example for profession-oriented
integration
Physiatrist:
- Providing rehabilitation services and planning
the body training for client in the centre


Nurses
Source: HCFC
Service/ Worker-oriented
Integration
Different service units or workers join together
E.g. The Hong Kong Council of Social Service

To work in partnership with international rehabilitation
community and the counterparts in the Asian and Pacific
region, including the China Disabled Persons Federation,
to strive for greater development of the disability
endeavors at large.
Source: The Hong Kong Council of Social Service
Method-oriented
integration
Case

E.g. counseling: deal with economics, emotional,
interpersonal, daily life problem…etc.
Groups
 E.g. support group, developmental group, volunteer
group
Programs
 E.g. Community education, workshop
Source: HCFC
Networking & Case management
Working through referring and linking up
clients with different services so that
clients can receive multiple kinds of
services.
E.g. Standardized Assessment Mechanism
for Residential Services for People with
Disabilities + Different resident
Networking & Case management
Build up an referring system
Give assessment → referring

E.g. Starting from January 2005, all
mentally handicapped or physically
handicapped applicants for residential
service had to undergo a standardized
assessment arranged by social workers.
Networking & Case management

Applicants assessed to have residential service
need will be registered on the waiting list in
accordance with the types of residential service
matched.

For those assessed to have no residential
service need, the referring social workers will
refer them for other appropriate services, such
as day training programs or community support
services.
Advantages of integration in
rehabilitation :
For client:
One –stop services
 Integration center provide a
comprehensive services to the services
target. E.g. Vocational, education and long
term care service.
 It take care all the needs of the client and
effectively help them re-integrate to the
community .
Advantages of integration in
rehabilitation :
More convenient for the client
 The client can enjoy the different services in one
organization, it is more optimum circumstance
for the clients .
 The connections within the organization can
make a linkage during the transition period (from
one service to another service ) of the client , it
makes them more adaptable under a strong
connections within the organization .
Advantages of integration in
rehabilitation :
For agency:
More appropriate to use the resources
 Since it combines all the services together,
it can effectively distribute the resources in
order to provide a better service .
 And combine all the services together to
held a bigger organization is easier to strive
for the funding due to they mainly are non –
profit organization .
Disadvantages of integration in
rehabilitation :



The comprehensive services within the
organization may benefit to the clients .
The distinct boundaries between the services
also may lead to the negligence to the clients’
needs .
Too clear division of labor and work would lead
to the unresponsiveness to the clients’ needs .
Each services unit also finish their own task and
the close relationship is absent .
Disadvantages of integration in
rehabilitation :
The workers are not capable to handle different tasks
 It become a serious issue if the finance status is not
good at all . The worker may responsible for more
than one services , while they are not familiar with
the services , it would deteriorate the services and
eventually the service users becoming the victim of
integration .

Extremely high work load also would made the
worker felt frustrated in their working and had a
poor performance on their work .
Difficulties of implementation of
integrated practice
Require different professional for different
services
 A cohesion relationship is essential to
establish but have obstacles while
implementation of integration

Solution
Hold a preparatory and detailed briefing
and sharing before the service started
For workers
 Self-learning to equip themselves

Comments:
Comments (+ve):
 Client service excellence
- provide one-stop
services
 Maximize service output
 System efficiency
effectiveness
Agency can well organize
the resources.
Comments (-ve):
 Still need time to improve
the integration system
 Raise the burden for
workers
Integration in
NLCDP
Background of NLCDP



Introduced in the 1970s
Aims: To serve the deprived and transient
communities where the provision of welfare
services and facilities was inadequate or nonexistent
Included areas: temporary housing areas,
squatter areas, Mark III to VI public housing
estates affected by the Housing Authority's five
year Comprehensive Redevelopment Program
NLCDP in Shek Kip Mei

To serve the residents affected by the
Housing Authority's five year
Comprehensive Redevelopment Program
Profession-oriented Integration

SW & teachers: arrange students to have
site visit in Shek Kip Mei People’s
Museum (managed by NLCDP team) or
visit the old public housing
Method-oriented Integration
Case: Counseling or practical assistance –
deal with economic, emotional, adaptive,
interpersonal, daily life problem etc
 Group: Woman group, action group etc
 Community work: Social action, residents
meeting, attend District Council’s meeting

Agency-oriented Integration
NLCDP + DECC + Family Service
Networking Team  case referral,
cooperation, resources
 NLCDP + Agency for Volunteer Service’s
V-Care Volunteer Aid Campaign 
arrange space, and suitable elders for the
volunteers

Locality-oriented Integration

Redevelopment: Housing Department,
Shek Kip Mei Estate Property
Management Office, Welfare Department,
Integrated Family Service Centre, District
Elderly Community Centre, members of
District Council, elderly centre
Client-oriented Integration
(a) Same client, different needs
 Elderly: Community education program
such as health and hygiene education
 (b) Different clients, same need
 Family & elder residents: residents
meeting about redevelopment issues

Networking & case management

Refer and link up clients with different
services: District Elderly Community
Centre, Housing Department, Welfare
Department (e.g. CSSA), Water Supplies
Department, furniture companies etc
Advantages of integration
Promote community education
 Accelerate community’s welfare services
and facilities by linking with other agencies
 Connect clients together to tackle
community problems and fulfill community
needs
 Better worker-client relationship

Disadvantages of integration
Refer cases to other agencies  need
time to refer it and for others to follow up
 may not the best to the clients
 Affected by the policy and restriction of
Housing Department, e.g. redevelopment
schedule

Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
For Workers:
 Do not have comprehensive knowledge in
handling different needs and problems of
the clients, e.g. fitment, cheapest furniture,
the renewal of water bill etc
 Solution – Use extra time to enrich
themselves, seek help from other NLCDP
teams or other relevant resources

Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
For Agency:
 The overlapping of works with other
agencies in the same district, e.g.
community education program, group
works
 Solution – Clear division of work through
communicating with other service
providers

Difficulties and Solutions to the
integration
For Clients:
 Residents VS Government  different
expectations, needs, problems and
difficulties encountered
 Solution – Try to link them up and balance
the benefits between two through
negotiating and discussing

Comments in Integration in NLCDP


Pros – It really helps social construction because
those elements of integration provides a better
and comprehensive services for the residents
even the whole community
Cons – The services are easily influenced by the
outside factors e.g. the government’s sudden
change in the sum of compensation for the
affected residents
Integration in DECC
District Elderly Community Centre
DECC implemented since 2001/02
providing elders with a comprehensive
package of support services
 Upgraded from multi-service centres for
the elderly

Service/ Worker-oriented
Integration

A worker is responsible to provide
counseling service, holding groups and
programmes
Profession-orientated Integration
Physiatrist: providing rehabilitation
services in the centre and home visit
Nurses: home visit, consultation services
 Both of the professions holding groups
(exercises group) and programs (talks)
together with the social worker

Advantages:
 more professional services are provided to the clients
Disadvantages:
 medically treats clients’ problem (醫療主導),
 Other professionals substitute the role of social workers
 power gap between clients and professional may be
widened disempowered
Difficulties:
 The medical professions need social work skills in
holding groups and programs
Solutions:
 Cooperation and communications between social worker
and other professionals needed
Method-oriented /Integration



Case (counseling: deal with economics,
emotional, interpersonal, daily life
problem…etc.),
Groups (support group, developmental group,
volunteer group)
Programs (community education)
Advantages:
 deal with clients’ needs by different intervention
at the same time more holistic and efficient
Disadvantages:
 Work load of Social workers ↑
Difficulties:
 Social workers need to be versatile
Solutions:
 More training given to social workers
Agency-oriented Integration

School/ Youth work agency + DECC
(volunteer programs, Home visits
organized cooperatively by school and
DECC)
Locality-oriented Integration

DECC acts as a coordinator between
elderly centres in a district, communication
will be done through meetings with other
centres. There will be discussion on
popular topics/ problem in the district and
have division of labour.
Client-oriented Integration
One stop-services
Same client, different needs:
 e.g.: Elderly: need- tangible, counseling
(counseling services), developmental, social
network (groups), health education (Community
education programmes)
Different client, same needs:
 e.g. carers+ elders+ community at large need
educations on health issues (caregivers group,
programs)

Networking & Case Management
DECC: Provision of information on
community resources and referral services
 Refer to hospitals, Social Security
department
 Refer from hospitals, IFSC, other agencies

Advantages
Link up client with community
 Provide clients with more holistic services
 Division of labour

Disadvantages

過度分工 e.g. divided the responsibilities by
streets and street nos. clients feel confused
where they can get the services
solution for this: some individual services are
divided by region, but for some mass program,
elders can join freely so an elder can be
member of more than one centre same
services provided to the same group of clients in
different centers
Difficulties
Limited resources (spaces, workers,
knowledge of workers)
 Division of labour sometimes is difficult,
only divided by region but not the case
nature

Whole group
comments
Advantages of integrations
For Service users:
 One centre obtain different types of
services (fulfill their needs and more
convenience)
 Integrate with different services =>
Not only focus on individual change but
also the systems that interfere them
Advantages of integrations
For Workers:
 Develop more network between other
professionals or specialists (increase
knowledge and skills)
 More insights from cooperation
 More mutual supports between workers
Advantages of integrations
For Service Unit:
 Better working atmosphere ( increase
communication between workers to get
more insights)
 More flexible in allocation of resources
(man power, $, spaces, services) to deal
with different needs in the communities
Advantages of integrations
For government
 Better and easier in management, monitor and
supervise different agencies (more efficient)
 Better understanding in the needs and services
provided in different districts
 Easier to implement new social services policies
 More clear structural => better image in the
social welfare
But,

There are difficulties in achieving the goal
of integrations
Difficulties in integration
Workers are not a supermen and have
limited (should focus on their strength)
 1+1>3 (ideal)
1+1<2 (in some realities,
problems in resources allocation)
 Government policy => FSA
 Different field communication problems
(Locality) (e.g. IFSC and ICYSC)
 Worker values and attitude

~The End~
References:

Lo Tit Wing, Wong Sing Wing, Ma Kun, Chan Wing Tai (1997) Evaluation on the
Implementation of the Review Report on Children and Youth Centre Services

HCFE http://www.hcfc.org.hk/

The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
http://www.hkjc.com/english/news/enews_20001121a.htm

The Hong Kong Council of Social Service:
http://www.hkcss.org.hk/download/folder/rh/rh_eng.htm

The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation http://www.rehabsociety.org.hk/483.html

Social welfare Department http://www.swd.gov.hk

St. James’ Settlement

青年高峰會

http://www.hkcss.org.hk/cy/er/cyservice_ref_c.dwt
http://www.sjs.org.hk/tc/publication/172/172-2.pdf
http://www.hkcss.org.hk/cy/2006%20youth%20summit.pdf