sembawang family service centre report of...

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SEMBAWANG FAMILY SERVICE CENTRE

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES

FROM OCTOBER 2011 TO MARCH 2012

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CONTENTS Page

01 SFSC Management Committee 3

02 Staffing 4

03 Staff Development 5

04 Programme Development 7

4.1 Enhanced Information & Referral

4.2 Casework & Counselling 8

4.2.1 Centre-Based & Mandatory

Counselling Cases

4.2.2 Rental Flat, Shelter & Homeless

Cases

4.3 LEAP Programme 17

4.4 Student Care Centre 18

4.5 Children’s Christmas Party 20

4.6 Volunteer Development 21

05 Networking & Outreach 22

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1. SFSC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Chairman Ms Jacqueline Khoo

Vice-Chairman Ms April Lee

Secretary Ms Michelle Tan

Treasurer Mr Peter Tan Sim Cheng

Assistant Treasurer Ms Cheong Boo Suan Nancy

Members Ms Rosalind Sun

Ms Wee Ghim Choo

Ms Lee Ming Ying Liesl

Ms Maureen Tan Kah Bee

Ex-officio Ms Anita Fam

Rev. Khoo Kay Huat (till Jan 2012)

Mr Raymond Chow (from Jan 2012)

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2. STAFFING

Front row (from left to right)

Eftoni Tang (Social Work Associate) Lim Sock Ling (Social Worker)

Goh Bee Hong (Programme Assistant) Annie Chua (Senior Counsellor)

Phua Geok Lan (Programme Assistant) Tan Joo Charng (Programme Assistant)

Clara Ho (Programme Executive) Sim Hui Choo (General Worker)

Lucy Gan (Programme Assistant) Kay Teck Hui (Senior Social Worker)

Ho Sau Kuen (Executive Director)

Back row (from left to right)

Joan Tan (Counsellor) How Poh Ling (Administrative Officer)

Joelle Su (Social Worker) Hartini Bte Rashid (Administrative Assistant)

Brenda Khong (Senior Social Worker) Jonathan Tan (Social Worker)

Clarence Yeung (Counsellor)

Not in the picture: Ruth Leong (Senior Counsellor) Jeanette Hui (Supervisor) Maimunah (Programme

Assistant), Wong Hun Ing (Cook)

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3. STAFF DEVELOPMENT

The Centre strongly believes in the importance of maintaining a strong, passionate and

dedicated team of staff who have the relevant and up-to-date professional knowledge and

skills, other than the heart, to care for the people in need. Hence, it is significant for staff in

both the Family Service Centre and the Student Care Centre to attend training or seminars for

personal and professional growth to keep up their passion and enhance their performance in

their designated areas of work.

Month /

Year

Training Staff

Oct 11 Code of Practice Seminar 2011 by

MCYS-OPG

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for

Internet Addiction by TOUCH

Community Services Limited

Boleh Saya Bantu Anda (May I Help

You) by SSTI

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT):

Introduction by SSTI

ADHD by Singapore Children’s Society -

Family Service Centre (Yishun)

Brenda Khong, Kay Teck

Hui & Lim Sock Ling

Kay Teck Hui

Jonathan Tan

Lim Sock Ling & Eftoni

Tang

Lim Sock Ling & Lucy Gan

Nov 11 Certificate in Case Management

Thriving at Work by SSTI

Annie Chua & Brenda Khong

Kay Teck Hui, Jonathan Tan,

Joan Tan & Clarence Yeung

Jan 12 Syariah Family Law for Social Service

Professionals by SSTI

Lim Sock Ling

Feb 12 FSC Seminar 2012: Strengthening Early

Intervention for At- Risk Families by

SSTI

Social Work Supervision: A Model for

Child & Family Practices by SSTI

Ho Sau Kuen, Annie Chua,


Hui, Jonathan Tan, Joan Tan,

Lim Sock Ling, Clarence

Yeung & Eftoni Tang

Ho Sau Kuen, Annie Chua,


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Certificate in Case Management by SSTI

Family Centred Care for Children &

Youth with Mental Health Needs by SSTI

Suicide Intervention Workshop by SOS

Hui & Clarence Yeung

Annie Chua & Brenda Khong

Lim Sock Ling & Joelle Su

Clarence Yeung

Mar 12 Social Workers' Day by SASW-FRTC

SSTI's 7th Charity Council Governance

Seminar

Case Management (Child Centric) – for

Supervisors by SSTI

Management of Family Violence: Talking

to Children & Managing Abuse-related

Disclosure by SSTI

Suicide Postvention Workshop by SOS

Exclusive Invitation Event by SSTI

Family Law for Social Service

Professionals by SSTI

Play Clay Training (VHOs) by National

Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre

DISC Profile & Role Behaviour Analysis

by SFSC

Ho Sau Kuen, Ruth Leong,

Annie Chua, Brenda Khong,

Jonathan Tan, Lim Sock

Ling, Clarence Yeung

Ho Sau Kuen

Kay Teck Hui

Joan Tan

Lim Sock Ling

Lim Sock Ling & Clarence

Yeung

Joelle Su

Clara Ho

Jeanette Hui, Phua Geok Lan,

Tan Joo Charng, Maimunah,

Lucy Gan, Wong Hun Ing,

Sim Hui Choo

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4. PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT

The Centre serves the residents living in Sembawang and part of Chong Pang with 2 core

services, i.e. Enhanced Information & Referral and Casework & Counselling.

4.1 Enhanced Information & Referral

From October 2011 to March 2012, the Centre assisted 454 people who called, walked in or

were referred, through an assessment to determine their needs and referral to the appropriate

social service, community or national resources.

80

71

95

6671 71

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Oct-11 Nov-11 Dec-11 Jan-12 Feb-12 Mar-12

No. of Cases

Oct 11 Nov 11 Dec 11 Jan 12 Feb 12 Mar 12

Total no. of

cases

80 71 95 66 71 71

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4.2 Casework & Counseling

4.2.1 Centre-Based & Mandatory Counselling Cases

Casework & Counseling services are conducted by the Centre’s trained social workers or

counselors. From October 2011 to March 2012, the top 5 issues surfaced were financial,

family violence, marital, parenting, and housing/shelter and amongst these, the most

significant increase was seen in family violence issues as compared to the previous year.

The Centre’s clients were mainly referred by other Voluntary Welfare Organizations or

by self referral. Majority of them were married Singaporeans, female, and lived in 4-5

room HDB flats. The predominant age group that came to seek the Centre’s services was

36-40 years old, followed by 41-45 years old and 46-50 years old. Appointments would

be scheduled for the clients with their respective social worker or counselor for further

assessment of their issues to determine the appropriate intervention.

The Centre also provides Mandatory Counseling (MC) services for family violence cases

referred by the Family Court.

Centre-Based Cases

23 1934

18 15 190 2 0 0 2 17 11 20 19

616

356366

380 379390 394

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450


New

Reopened

Closed

Total

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Cases carried forward 340 356 366 380 379 390

No. of new cases 23 19 34 18 15 19

No. of re-opened cases 0 2 0 0 2 1

No. of closed cases 7 11 20 19 6 16

Total no. of cases 356 366 380 379 390 394

Mandatory Counselling Cases

8

1

16

62

40

3 20 0 0

5048

62

6870

74

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80


New

Closed

Total

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No. of new cases 8 1 16 6 2 4


Total no. of cases 50 48 62 68 70 74

Ethnic Distribution of Clients

173 (44%)

80(20%)

44(11%)

97(25%)

394 Cases (as at Mar 12)

Chinese

Malay

Indian

Others / MandatoryCounselling

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4.2.2 Rental Flat, Shelter & Homeless Cases

Challenges continued to be present for the Centre in working with housing and shelter

issues. More of these cases had been observed to involve disputes within the family and

the family members were generally not keen to come forth for mediation, leading to the

clients feeling “stuck” in their situations when they could not find lodging with their

family members and lacked the means to obtain alternative housing or shelter options.

Hence, intensive work was often necessary and much liaison, networking, advocacy and

co-ordination with the relevant stakeholders had to be carried out amidst the need for the

Centre’s professional staff to work around concerns such as limited shelter resources,

constraints due to existing policies, low manpower, demands from other work priorities,

time and expectations from stakeholders.

Rental Flat Cases





Total no. of cases 35 37 37 37 37 38

2 20

4

0

3

0 0 0

4

02

3537 37 37 37 38

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40


New

Closed

Total

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11(29%)

17(45%)

4(10%)

6(16%)


Chinese

Malay

Indian

Others

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Shelter Cases





Total no. of cases 6 6 6 7 7 6

0 0 0

1

0

11

0 0 0 0

1

6 6 6

7 7

6

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8


New

Closed

Total

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2(33%)

2(33%)

2(33%)


Chinese

Malay

Indian

Others

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Homeless Cases





Total no. of cases 4 4 5 4 4 4

0 0

1

0 0

2

1

0 0

1

0

2

4 4

5

4 4 4

0

1

2

3

4

5

6


New

Closed

Total

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2(50%)

1(25%)

1(25%)


Chinese

Malay

Indian

Others

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4.3 LEAP Programme

The programme addresses the educational & developmental needs of children as young

as 5 years old who come from non-English speaking background and have difficulties

picking up the English language by catering to their learning ability & pace. Most of the

children are referred by personal contact and other agencies such as schools,

kindergartens & hospitals. The programme also involves parents in the child’s learning

journey through various activities such as talks & workshops.

Programmes / Activities No. of Students / No. of Parents


Outing to NEWater Visitor

Centre

10

LEAP Parenting Talk on

"Motivating Factors to

Academic Performance in

Primary Students"

13

LEAP Graduation Party cum

Parenting Talk on “Building

Your Child’s Developmental

Assets- parenting with

Consequences”

36 / 22

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4.4 Student Care Centre

The SCC provides before and after school care for children between 7 – 14 years old. It is

a home away from home, providing a conducive environment for children to be nurtured.

The Centre’s programmes and activities are organized based on the beliefs that every

child should experience a happy childhood and be nurtured in an environment of love and

discipline; is a unique person of intrinsic worth, deserving respect and every opportunity

to develop to his/her fullest potential; should be helped to achieve healthy balanced

growth physically, intellectually, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

54

54.5

55

55.5

56

56.5

57

57.5


Enrolment

Number of Students

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48

3 3 2 1

50

31 2

00

10

20

30

40

50

60

$0 $60 $120 $180 $200

Students Eligible for CDC Subsidy

Number of Students as atDec 11

Number of Students as atApr 12

Family Income

($)

CDC Subsidy

($)

Fee borne by parents

($)

Inclusive of GST

> 2500 0 256.80

2001 - 2500 60 196.80

1501 - 2000 120 136.80

1500 180 76.80

< 1500 200 56.80

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4.5 Children’s Christmas Party

68 children participated in the Christmas Party organized by Mayfair Park on 3 Dec 2011.

Programmes / Activities No. of Students / No. of Parents


MGS’s Christmas Caroling 30

Outing to MacRitchie

Reservoir

40

Outing to Marina Barrage 45

Bowling at Orchid Country

Club

46

Outing to Pasir Ris Park 42

Christmas cum Birthdays

Party organised by Alumni

Club members

46 / 10

Outing to Singapore Science

Centre

40

Outing to Singapore

Repertory Theatre

38

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4.6 Volunteer Development

The Centre’s Volunteer Programmes provide an avenue for people who are keen to

volunteer their time and talent to make a difference in the community. Most of the

volunteers are referred by the on-line portals of National Volunteer & Philanthropy

Centre (NVPC) and Youth Bank, as well as SG Cares. Volunteering opportunities at

SFSC include helping out in Sembawang Student Care Centre, Mentoring Programme,

kidsREAD Programme and various ad-hoc programmes. Support and training will be

looked into to assist volunteers to help others in need.

Programmes / Activities No. of Beneficiaries / No. of Volunteers


Mentoring Programme 4 / 3 4 / 3 4 / 3 3 / 4 4 / 6 5 / 6

KidsREAD Programme 15 / 7 15 / 6 14 / 6 14 / 6

Read to LEAP children 1 / 1 1 / 1

Accompany LEAP children to

NEWater Visitor Centre

10 / 1

Provide caregiving to children

and other logistical support

during LEAP Parenting Talk

13 / 2 58 / 4

Provide home maintenance

for client

1 / 11 1 / 13

Provide home support for

client

1 / 1 1 / 1 2 / 2

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5. NETWORKING & OUTREACH

The Centre is aware that it cannot work alone and by fostering and maintaining close

collaboration with significant community partners such as the Advisors, Grassroots Leaders,

Community Development Councils, HDB, Police, Hospitals and Schools etc, there could

then be continuous work towards achieving effective delivery and sustainability of the

Centre’s services and programmes for the community.

From October 2011 to March 2012, the Centre observed an increased trend in cases facing

chronic financial needs which would benefit from the Centre’s engagement of the whole

family unit and carrying out of family sessions to explore options & alternatives in order for

the individual families to cope more effectively. It was also significant to work and follow up

with multiple stakeholders to calibrate their expectations towards the families’ ability to be

self-reliant, and garner resources from the community, such as the Straits Times School

Pocket Money Fund, Emergency Relief Fund contributed by the Covenant Community

Methodist Church and food rations donated mainly by the Boys’ Brigade, to assist the lower

income families.

In view of the hike in family violence cases seen by the Centre where some of these cases

surfaced multiple and complex issues such as parenting difficulties, mental health concerns,

blended families, cross-cultural marriages leading to adjustment difficulties and conflicts,

child custody or access issues etc which required more support and time to be rendered by

the professional staff of the Centre to help the clients to better cope with their situations, the

Centre maintained collaboration with its agency partners in the Ang Mo Kio Regional Family

Violence Working Group to conduct outreach to targeted groups annually as preventive and

remedial measures to help address family violence issues within the community.

CIP by students of ACS

(Barker Road)

62 / 26 38 / 14

Banquet Of Love 171 / 42

CIP by students of Raffles

Institution

78 / 5

sembawang family service centre report of...

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