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Issue 48 (10/2021)



Table of Contents

  • Election for Social Workers Registration Board Members
  • Main Focus
  • Work Report
  • CPD courses and activities for RSWs
    •  
    Election for Social Workers Registration Board Members

    Background

    The term of office of the current members of the Social Workers Registration Board will end on 15 January 2022. According to the provisions of the Social Workers Registration Ordinance, the Board is composed of 15 members, of which 8 members should be registered social workers and elected by registered social workers.

    In order to coordinate the election of members for the new term, the Board has setup an Election Committee (EC) composed of lay members in accordance with the "Rules for the Election of Board Members". The members include Professor Chan Wing Tai, JP (Chairperson), Ms. Mak Lai Ying and Ms. Lee Cheung Pui, Sindy Cat. The EC has finished the nomination procedure, confirmed and published the list of 15 valid candidates. Ballots will be sent out to registered social workers on 11 November, and will be counted on 4 December. The 8 candidates who obtain the highest number of votes will be elected as Board members for the next 3-year term from 16 January 2022 to 15 January 2025.

    List of Candidates 

    The sequential number for each candidate (The number in brackets is the registration number) has been assigned after the Lots Drawing Session hosted by Professor Chan Wing Tai, JP:

    1.       Leung Yin Hung (04012)
    2.       Cheung Yun Hang, Stanley (18130)
    3.       Cheung Tat Ming (01191)
    4.       Lai Man Lok (24930)
    5.       Yu Sau Ying (07193)
    6.       Ng Yut Ming (05020)
    7.       Chan Kwok Bong (00293)
    8.       Chung Wai Lun, Adino (09608)
    9.       Ho Sze Man, Toby (16318)
    10.     Wong Kam Kuen (06247)
    11.     Shum Wai Chuen (05285)
    12.     Luk Fung Ping (04497)
    13.     Ching Chi Kong (01286)
    14.     Ng Siu Man (04909)
    15.     Lam Chiu Wan (02855)

    draw lots

    draw lots

    Important Dates

    Dates Events
    4 November 2021 Closure of Register for Voters

    6 November 2021

    		 Election Forum
    15 November - 4 December 2021      
     (Deadline: 12:00 nn)
    		 Period of postal voting

    4 December 2021
    (9:00 am -12:00 nn) 

    		 On-site voting

    4 December 2021
    (Starts at 12:00nn)

    		 Vote counting

    Election Forum

    To let voters better understand the candidates before the voting, an election forum will be held on 6 November 2021 at 2:00 pm.  Owing to the uncertain situation of the pandemic, the forum will be conducted in hybrid mode. Candidates can only opt to attend the forum on-site while voters can only join the forum online.  

     

    Since the forum is limited to voters only, RSWs who are interested to attend, please register and provide the registration number for verification through the online form (https://bit.ly/3m4jL9x) before 1:00 pm on 5 November. We will send the forum login information to participating voters after verification.


    Procedure of vote casting and vote counting

    The Board believes that the previous election methods have operated fairly and smoothly, so this election will follow the previous voting methods and arrangements. To put it simple, we will ensure that any voter's identity and voting decisions cannot be identified in the process through the following methods:

    1. The ballot paper will not contain any mark that can identify the voter.
    2. Ballots must be placed in a designated computer barcode envelope. The barcode is only used to link up with the voter database when verifying the eligibility of the voter and before the votes are counted.
    3. The barcode envelope will be opened after verification, the ballot paper inside will be taken out, separated from the envelope, and pooled with other ballot papers from other envelopes.  By then, no one can tell which ballot paper is whose.
    4. The ballots are counted by the service provider using a specific scanning system.

    By separating eligibility verification from vote counting, the method ensures that the identity of voters will not be identified during the voting and counting process. For details, please click here.

    Announcement of Result

    In normal circumstances, after the EC confirmed the election results, the Board office will announce the result in the Board's website. The list of new Board members, including elected and appointed members, will be gazetted in early January 2022.

    Conclusion

    All eligible voters will receive ballots and candidates’ information in mid-November 2021. If voters do not receive it as scheduled, please contact the Board office as soon as possible to arrange for a replacement. The EC hereby appeals to all RSWs to vote actively to elect the new 8 elected Board members. In addition, if your registered address is changed, please notify us as soon as possible to avoid delay in the delivery of ballot papers.

     

    Main Focus

    1.     Termination of the Waiving Scheme of Renewal fee for Registration

    Last year, the Board waived the renewal fee for the year 2021 in response to the adverse economic impact of the pandemic. As the scheme has been completed, all RSWs who wish to apply for renewal due to expire on or after 31 January 2022, in addition to submitting the application form, are required to pay a renewal fee of HK$400 as usual. In normal circumstances, renewal application will be approved and new registration card will be issued within about 10 working days after receipt of the form and fee.

    2. Points to note for RSWs reporting charges and convictions 

    According to section 24 of the Ordinance, A registered social worker who has, at any time on or after the date of the statutory declaration made by him, been charged with or convicted of any offence, shall notify the Board in writing as soon as reasonably practicable after he has been charged or convicted. Therefore, charges or convictions should not be reported until you apply for renewal. For frequently asked questions about reporting charges or convictions, please refer to the previous newsletter.

    Work Report

    1. Second round public consultation on the amendment on Code of Practice for RSWs

    The Board has conducted two rounds of consultation on the proposed revisions to the Code of Practice and related guidelines. The second round consultation implemented in mid-May this year and lasted for more than three months to the end of August through online consultation sessions and online form to collect views. After consideration to all comments, the "Task Force on Review of Code of Practice" has completed the draft revision and passed it to the legal advisor to study whether any latest refinements will trigger any legal disputes or uncertainties. After the final version is confirmed, the Board will arrange for the gazette of the document for it taking effect as soon as possible.

    2. Preparation on publication of the second series of the Casebook of disciplinary inquiries

    The Board has published the "Casebook of Disciplinary Inquiries" in 2009. At that time, 28 inquired cases were compiled for analysis and discussion, which served as arousing reflections for colleagues. After more than ten years of cases accumulation, the Board started the compilation of the second series of the casebook and appointed an editorial subcommittee at the end of last year to follow up the matter.

    3. Briefing to TIs about the new edition of the Principles, Criteria and Standards for recognizing Social Work Qualifications (PCS)

    The lately revised PCS was announced in April this year and will take effect on 1 September next year. Representatives of the Committee on Qualification Assessment and Registration briefed and communicated with representatives of the Hong Kong Social Work Education Association on 26 May and 18 August respectively.

    4. Qualification Recognition Review

    The following are the social work qualifications that are undergoing recognition review in the 2021/2022 academic year:
    • HKCT Institute of Higher Education: Bachelor of Social Sciences (Hons) in Social Work
    • Gratia Christian College: Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)
    • Caritas Institute of Higher Education: Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) in Social Work
    • UOW College Hong Kong: Associate of Social Science in Social Work

    5. Promotion Work

    During the period from April to September 2021, staff of the Board Office introduced the work of the Registration Board to the social work students of the following institutions through online or physical visits: 

    • Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (Sha Tin) of the Vocational Training Council （Final Year）： 50
    • University of Hong Kong （Final Year ）： 149
    • Hong Kong Baptist University（Final Year）：60
    • Caritas Institute of Higher Education （Final Year）： 200
    • School of Continuing and Professional Studies, the Chinese University of Hong Kong（Final Year）： 40
    • Hong Kong Shue Yan University （Final Year）： 50
    • UOW College Hong Kong （First Year／ Final Year）： 120
    • The City University of Hong Kong（Final Year）： 62
    • Hong Kong Community College of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University （Final Year）： 50
    • HKCT Institute of Higher Education （Final Year）： 90
    • Total：871
     

     


    CPD courses and activities for RSWs

    Statistics (including Registration and Complaints)

    (as at 30/9/2021)

    Total Number of RSWs：26,808

    Gender Distribution

    Male：8,332 (31.08%)
    Female：18,473 (68.92%)

    Qualification for Registration

    Recognized bachelor degree or above：18,016 (67.27%)
    Recognized diploma：8,702 (32.46%)
    Others：    74 (0.27%)

    Statistics on Complaint Cases (since establishment)

    Total Complaint Cases received：686 
    Total Cases for Disciplinary Inquiry：144 
    Total Established Cases：36

    Note：As some cases are still in the preliminary stage or disciplinary proceedings, the above figures are not expressed in proportion.

    Articles contributed by RSWs
    (The content of the following articles is solely the author's personal opinion and does not represent any position of the Board. The language of the article is published according to the original manuscript, no translated version is provided.)

    社會工作者在社會變遷中的存在意義

    梁國良博士

    隨着跨專業合作的機會增加和資源管理產生的種種問題，社會工作者，尤其是初入職的同工，對自己的專業角色容易感到模糊、迷茫甚至迷失。再者，新一個移民潮不單為本港社會福利機構帶來嚴重的斷層，還可能令移居海外的社工被迫轉行，把他們原有的專業角色摧毀了。從事社工接近四份一世紀的我，在支援同工時，發現了以下有別於其他專業同工的四個社工角色，希望藉此分享，讓業界各方都能肯定社工的獨特角色及珍惜現有資源。

    「意義人生的伴行者」

    社會工作是一個「人道化」的專業，她由起初已是個價值為本、有價值取向，為社會中的成員而服務的專業團體。可惜，隨着新管理模式的出現，這個專業側重了個案管理、數據的輸出和可量度的服務效益，卻忘記了她們的使命是透過建立一種特殊的工作關係，去承載每天要面對痛苦、威脅和失掉的個人和家庭，成為他們的伴行者。事實上，中外社工學者，如莫拉萊斯（Armando Morales）、謝弗（ Bradford Sheafor）、伍可兒、阮新邦、朱志强、林昭寰等，早已提出「俗世的牧者」和「道德實踐」的論點。不幸，社會變遷把社工的使命也埋藏了。當前之務，就是要讓同工從「忙、忘、亡」的生態中醒悟過來，自力更新，重拾使命，成為真正的毅行者。

    「朋輩跨代的和事老」

    沒有一個專業比社工更重視人際關係對社會的影響。假如社工在提供服務時忽視服務使用者與他人的關係，他不會是個稱職的社工。在筆者服務的機構，有社工、護士、營養師、心理學家、藝術治療師等多專業同工為受癌症影響的個人和家庭提供支援，但只有社工在意識上和在評估、介入、設計活動和推動服務上較習慣運用系統思維幫助患者及其家人彼此諒解、互相扶持，以促進家庭抗逆力。我希望同工們謹記，當我們高舉實証為本的介入模式的同時，切勿忘記不少中外的家庭治療大師，如沙維雅（Virginia Satir）、帕普（Peggy Papp）、懷特（Michael White）、李維榕、霍玉蓮、黃麗彰等，都曾接受社會工作的專業訓練，成為了同業的好榜樣。

    「社會資源的把關人」

    不知道是隨從本性或後天學習，社會工作者好像是最「諸事八卦」、愛「好管閒事」的一族。當十多年前推動男士成長服務時，我竟然為了更認識服務使用者的需要，親嘗全港首間男士診所的服務，徹底體驗到自己作為服務使用者的心路歷程。即使在外地生活了幾年，我和內子總喜歡在週末時逛逛醫院、參觀社會服務機構，不單滿足我們的好奇心，也讓我們掌握社區資源，為有需要人士提供適當資訊，解決當下之急。在過去幾年，隨着社會運動和疫情的影響，受癌症影響的個人及家庭都面對着前所未有的困難，除了機構提供的免費心理社交支援服務外，能掌握對社會資源包括慈善基金、食物銀行、家居服務、院舍情況等的資訊就成為了有需要人士在黑暗中的曙光。

    「無聲者的發言人」

    雖然社會變遷對社工的倡導模式帶來不少衝擊，但社工的倡導角色是無法磨滅的。對於弱勢社群和邊緣人士，社工仍然可以發揮責無旁貸的積極作用。筆者曾認識一位三十多歲患有罕見癌症的年青人，她確診後不久要接受多次手術和治療，使她無法親臨中心或透過視像接受輔導服務。然而，因着上文提及的伴行關係，我們三年來透過28次電郵及電話，打開了生死的話題，探討了苦難的本質，並為死亡作好預備。她不單稱讚我是最了解她心路歷程的人，更叮囑我為她撰寫訃文，並在靈堂上為她讀出，要讓親友以她面對頑疾的勇氣為傲。就在她離世前一天，我在醫院見她生前最後一面，我給她承諾為她圓夢。透過社交媒體，這訃文亦成為了未能表達傷痛的親友的一份安慰和支持。

    社會工作從來都以社會公義為專業基礎，而社會工作者理應回應良心的呼喚，為社會大眾謀求福祉。可是，噪音和陰霾令我們聽不到、看不見植根於這心靈深處的微聲，我們在驚恐中不知不覺地選擇了跟隨大隊或強迫別人順從自己。那時候我們便忘記了自己的使命，失去了初心和愛火。唯有在安靜中、在安全信任的關係裡，我們才可甦醒過來，再次在良心的光照下發現我們在社會中的獨特角色。我深信社會工作者的獨特角色並不限於以上四方面，更多角色仍有待有心人一起發掘。只要我們把握這變遷中的機遇，認定社會工作的使命，持守她的本質和價值，我們便會明白社會工作者的存在是獨有、充滿意義和有其必要的。


    Article Contribution for Newsletter

    In order to provide an opportunity for colleagues to express their views on social work profession, you are welcome to contribute articles to our e-newsletter. Please note the following rules when doing so:

    1. Articles should be related to the functions of the Board or the social work profession.
    2. No articles represent the position of the Board and authors should take sole responsibility for their views.
    3. Authors should provide their real name, contact address, email and contact number. Authors may request for not publishing their real name.
    4. Articles could be written in Chinese (within 2,000 words) or in English (within 1,500 words).
    5. The Board is with full discretion in deciding on publishing an article or not.
    6. The Board reserves its right of editing an article.
    7. No any form of remuneration will be provided by the Board.
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