Number of Group 2, Group 3 and Group 4 Cases Handled by Family Services Centres and Number of Social Workers Employed by these Centres in Past Five Years

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development for each year in the past five years (a) what is the total number of (i) group 2 cases (ii) group 3 cases and (iii) group 4 cases that are handled by the Family Service Centres (FSCs) respectively; and (b) what is the total number of social workers employed by the FSCs.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: Social workers in Family Service Centres (FSCs) partner individuals and families to address their social needs. FSCs refer to the FSC-Code of Social Work Practice (FSC-CSWP) to classify each case into one of four case groups based on its assessed risk and complexity. Cases with higher risks and complexity of needs are assigned higher CSWP groupings. FSCs review the cases regularly and adjust the CSWP classifications accordingly.

From FY2018 to FY2020, the total number of active cases in each grouping 1 managed by FSCs is in Table 1 below. We do not have data for the period before FY2018.

The total number of social workers handling cases 2 in FSCs has increased steadily over the past five years, from 658 in FY2016 to 673 in FY2017, 680 in FY2018, 925 in FY2019 and 1,015 in FY2020.

Note(s) to Question No(s) 16:

1 The number of cases in each CSWP grouping is based on the average of reported figures at the end of each quarter in the FY.

2 The data on the number of FSC caseworkers is based on the average of reported figures at the end of each half-year in the FY and may not account for staff turnover between reporting periods.