Service Development

<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="950"%> Service Development

Terms of Reference

Aims

To promote social services development, facilitate experience exchange and participate in welfare planning.

Functions

1.	To identify service needs and inform the Government, member agencies and the public of the needs;
2.	To study data and information on social welfare services to enhance service effectiveness, co-ordination and planning;
3.	To participate in the planning of social welfare services and advocate for the improvement of service policies and best practices;
4.	To be sensitive to emerging service needs and gaps, and to promote pioneering and innovative social welfare services together with service agencies;
5.	To reflect the views and needs of service agencies in the development of social welfare services;
6.	To initiate and participate in service review and to enhance service quality;
7.	To enhance cross service and multi-disciplinary collaboration in meeting community needs.

Composition, Chairperson and Term of Office

1.	Six members of the Standing Committee shall be nominated and elected by Agency Members and Life Members;
2.	Chairpersons of the four service Specialized Committees shall be ex-officio members;
3.	Two co-opted members shall be appointed by the Standing Committee;
4.	The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be elected from among the members of the Standing Committee;
5.	The Chief Executive and the concerned Business Director and Chief Officers shall be in attendance;
6.	Elected and co-opted members shall hold office for two-year term*;
7.	No person representing the same agency shall be eligible for election or co-option to the Committee for more than 2 consecutive terms;
8.	The Committee may fill vacancies occurring in the Committee for the remaining term of the posts left vacant.

*	In the first election, half of the elected members with higher numbers of votes shall hold office for two-year term, and the other half for one-year term. In line with the same principle, half of the co-opted members shall hold office for two-year term and the other half for one-year term.

Accountability, Report, Meetings and Spokesperson

1.	The Standing Committee should be directly accountable to, and submit annual work plan to the Executive Committee;
2.	The Standing Committee should submit annual report to the Executive Committee;
3.	The Standing Committee shall co-ordinate the work plans of various service specialized committees, handle common service planning and development matters, and facilitate specialized committees in understanding and implementing overall development strategies and policies of the Council;
4.	The Standing Committee shall hold no less than 6 meetings each year;
5.	The Chairperson of the Standing Committee and the concerned Business Director and their delegates shall be the spokespersons of the Standing Committee on Service Development and Liaison. In case of major and controversial issues, they shall consult the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee shall have the power to confirm or override the concerned standpoints.