Invitation for Application to be a
Recognised Service Provider of the
Training Subsidy Programme for Children on the
Waiting List for Subvented
Pre-school Rehabilitation Services
Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services Branch
Social Welfare Department
23 July 2014
社會福利署
Social Welfare Department
Background and Objectives
• As a stop-gap measure, the Community Care Fund (CCF)
launched a training subsidy programme (CCF Programme)
in December 2011 with a view to enabling children from
low-income families and in need of rehabilitation services
to receive necessary services as soon as possible so as to
facilitate their learning and development while waiting for
subvented services.
• In view of the positive evaluation outcome of the CCF
Programme and the persistently pressing demand for preschool rehabilitation services, SWD has decided to
regularise the CCF Programme with effect from October
2014
2
Training Subsidy Programme
3
Commencement Date
The Training Subsidy Programme is targeted to commence on
1 October 2014.
4
Eligibility Criteria for
Recognised Service Providers (RSPs)
The applicant for RSP should be
1. a bona-fide non-governmental and non-profit making
organisation with tax-exemption status under section 88 of the
Inland Revenue Ordinance (Chapter 112);
2. with at least three years of track record in running welfare
services;
3. with at least one year of direct experience in operating
subvented or self-financing pre-school rehabilitation services.
Applications will not be considered if the pre-school rehabilitation
services are provided through purchase of services alone.
5
Beneficiaries
A beneficiary shall meet ALL of the following criteria:
• The applicant child must be under the age of six years;
• On the waiting list for subvented pre-school rehabilitation
service; and
• The monthly household income does not exceed 75% of
the Median Monthly Domestic Household Income
(MMDHI) applicable to the applicant's household size at
the time of application.
6
Application Status on Central Referral
System for Rehabilitation Services
• Children joining the Training Subsidy Programme will
continue to remain on the waiting list of the Central
Referral System for Rehabilitation Services Subsystem for
Disabled Pre-schoolers (CRSRehab-PS).
• When they accept the offer of placement under
CRSRehab-PS, they will no longer be eligible for subsidy
under the Training Subsidy Programme.
7
Application Status on Central Referral
System for Rehabilitation Services (Cont’d)
• If the beneficiaries decide to decline the offer of placement
under CRSRehab-PS and choose to continue to receive
subsidy under the Training Subsidy Programme, their
application in CRSRehab-PS will be removed;
• They may continue to receive subsidy under the Training
Subsidy Programme until the 1st September after they
have attained the age of 6 or their admission to primary
school, whichever is the earlier.
8
Levels of Subsidy and Service Delivery
• There will be two subsidy levels for beneficiaries having
different levels of disabilities.
• The subsidy has already taken into account the training
cost, rent & rates, government rent (if any), administrative
costs and salary cost.
9
Levels of Subsidy and Service Delivery
(Cont’d)
Normal Subsidy Level
• For children applying for EETC or Integrated Programme
in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centre (IP)
• Subsidy of $2,763 per month for each beneficiary.
10
Levels of Subsidy and Service Delivery
(Cont’d)
Normal Subsidy Level Service Components
1. Four sessions of individual or group training/ therapy
services in three hours per month provided by special
child care worker(s), psychologist(s), occupational
therapist(s), physiotherapist(s) or speech therapist(s)
(including parallel groups with participation of
parent(s)/guardian(s)/carer(s) at the same time) ; and
11
Levels of Subsidy and Service Delivery
(Cont’d)
Normal Subsidy Level Service Components (Cont’d)
2. Four sessions (each session of 45 minutes) of individual
assessment and/or family support services provided by
psychologist(s), occupational therapist(s),
physiotherapist(s), speech therapist(s) or registered social
worker(s) in a year, e.g. one session per quarter.
12
Levels of Subsidy and Service Delivery
(Cont’d)
Higher Subsidy Level
• For Children applying for SCCC or RSCCC.
• Subsidy of $3,867 per month for each beneficiary.
13
Levels of Subsidy and Service Delivery
(Cont’d)
Higher Subsidy Level Service Components
1. four sessions of individual or group training/ therapy
services in four hours per month provided by special child
care worker(s), psychologist(s), occupational therapist(s),
physiotherapist(s) or speech therapist(s) (including
parallel groups with participation of
parent(s)/guardian(s)/carer(s) at the same time) with at
least six therapeutic/training sessions from occupational
therapist(s), physiotherapist(s) or speech therapist(s)
every six months; and
14
Levels of Subsidy and Service Delivery
(Cont’d)
Higher Subsidy Level Service Components (Cont’d)
2. four sessions (each session of 45 minutes) of individual
assessment and/or family support services provided by
psychologist(s), occupational therapist(s),
physiotherapist(s), speech therapist(s) or registered social
worker(s) in a year, e.g. one session per quarter.
15
Service Agreement with RSPs
• The validity period for the agreement with RSPs will be
three years, i.e. from 1 October 2014 to 30 September
2017.
16
Service Centres and Training Places
• RSPs may choose to provide training placements for one
or both of the subsidy levels.
• RSPs are required to specify the centres providing services
and the number of placements at the two subsidy levels in
each of the centre.
• If the services under the Training Subsidy Programme are
to be provided in centres operating subvented services,
RSPs have to observe the guidelines on fees and charges as
stipulated in the Lump Sum Grant Manual (May 2012) and
the related principles as advised by Subventions Section of
SWD.
17
Programme Implementation
• Beneficiaries can choose three service units operated by
RSPs in order of priority.
• SWD will, as far as possible, arrange an RSP for an
eligible child according to the preference.
• RSPs are required to make contact the beneficiaries within
7 working days
• RSPs should reply to SWD on the case admission status
within one month.
18
Programme Implementation (Cont’d)
• If RSPs are unable to provide training sessions to the
beneficiaries, compensatory sessions should be offered not
later than three months from the date of
leave/absence/lateness or before the beneficiaries’
discharge from the Training Subsidy Programme,
whichever is the earlier.
• In case a beneficiary is absent without leave application,
no compensatory session will be arranged.
19
Programme Implementation (Cont’d)
• For beneficiaries who had been absent without leave
application for three consecutive sessions or when the
compensatory sessions were accumulated to over four
sessions, their eligibility for subsidy will be suspended.
20
Payment of Subsidy
• RSPs should submit detailed records of subsidised services
provided to each beneficiary on a monthly basis.
• RSPs apply for release of funding on a quarterly basis.
• Subsidy will be reimbursed every three months by means
of bank transfer and any unused subsidy cannot be carried
forward.
21
Procurement of Equipment
• SWD will apply to the Lotteries Fund for grants to
subsidise the procurement of training aids and equipment
• Allocation of grant will be subject to the approval of the
Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee and Financial
Services and the Treasury Bureau.
22
Financial Monitoring
RSPs should
• keep a separate account on the Training Subsidy
Programme for audit purpose.
• enter the subsidy under Training Subsidy Programme as
separate items into the audited financial statements.
• submit annual audited income and expenditure statements
to SWD no later than 31st October following the end of the
financial year concerned.
• keep all relevant accounting records with supporting
service records and documents for seven years.
23
Service Monitoring
SWD will monitor the services provided by RSPs through the
following means:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Monthly Statistics Report
Self-assessment Report on a yearly basis
Users’ Satisfaction Survey in quarterly report form
Review Visit/ Random Checks conducted by SWD
24
Submission of Application
BY HAND to
Rehabilitation and Medical Social Services
Branch
Social Welfare Department
Room 901, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen’s
Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
25
Deadline for Submission
28 July 2014
(Monday)
5:00pm
LATE SUBMISSION, SUBMISSION BY EMAIL
AND FASCIMILE IS NOT ACCEPTED.
26
Assessment of Application
• Assessment of applications shall take into
account whether applicants have fully met
all the eligibility criteria as well as the
service requirements stipulated in the
Service Specifications.
27
Announcement of Results
• Applicant NGOs will be informed of the
result of their application in August 2014
the earliest.
28
Questions and
Answers
29