| Author: | Choi, Chung-fai |
| Title: | Understanding the variables that affect the effectiveness of centre-in-charges in children and youth centres |
| Degree: | M.A. |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Subject: | Social work administration Day care centers -- Administration Youth centers -- Administration Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Department of Applied Social Studies |
| Pages: | iii, 88 leaves : ill. ; 31 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | AIMS OF THE STUDY The aims of this study was to investigate if there were consensus view in perceiving "centre-in-charges' effectiveness" in the field as well as searching for the extent of variation in judging centre-in-charges' effectiveness. The third aim in this study was to identify the variables and their relationship that affect centre-in-charges' effectiveness. Hoping that this study would bring insight to those who wish to become a centre-in-charge. Methods of Study Data was collected through two rounds of in-depth interviews. 6 centre-in-charges of Children and Youth Centres were selected by purposive sampling in the first round interviews. Recordings of the interviews were entered in a data base program sentence by sentence. Content analysis methods were employed to identify the perspectives of the informants on the definition of effectiveness and variables that affect effectiveness. In the second round interviews, another 5 informants were invited for the in-depth interviews. The focus of the second round interviews stressed more on comparing the findings of what have been found significant in the first round interviews and identified the relationships among the variables.. Major Findings There were 25 variables identified, among them Staff Instability, the Centre-in-charges' Experiences and the Agency Policy had much influence on the informants effectiveness. On the other hand , it was found that Centre-in-charges' experiences affected the informants' perceptions on effectiveness. The inexperienced CICs tended to consider their effectiveness from a personal achievement orientation while the experienced CICs tended to perceive their effectiveness from more comprehensive view on the context where the centre-in-charge is situated. They tended to consider the demand from four aspects, the agency, the community, the staffs and the funding bodies. Different definition on CIC's effectiveness lead to different expectation on staffs, services strategy and directions. Throughout all the interviews, none of the informants had mentioned the service provision pattern of Children and Youth Centre as a variable affect their effectiveness. Perhaps they regarded service provision pattern as irrelevant to their effectiveness or it was possible that the informants took for granted that the researcher who was also a centre-in-charge would understand the effect of service provision pattern on their effectiveness. But they agreed that the neighbourhood level service provision was the centre services' special characteristics which made the district factors become an important variable affected the CICs' effectiveness. As long as the services provided in the same context, even centres reform into Integrated Teams, the identified variables would inevitably have effect on the Team-in-charges. Suggestions - The effectiveness of a Centre-in-charge should be regarded as the total performance of the effort that he coordinate among the aspects of the centre context and make the best to react to the demands from this context. - Many Centre-in-charges regarded agency central tasks as important variable affect their effectiveness. This is the reality that a CIC cannot escape. CIC should regarded Agency Tasks as part of their job and treasure the participation in molding the future of the agency. - Community relationship has direct effect on affecting the resources and opportunities that a centre can use for its service development. This relationship to centre services development is important. - In the aspect of staff management, it was advised that the centre-in-charge should emphasis more on their supportive function. - Facing the inevitable Staff Instability problem in the field, the CIC should keep himself involve in some direct services which enable him to have a troop in hand. Keep on serving the community is a way to keep the centre have a place in it. - Community relationship should be backed up by quality services. From where the local leaders, the community agencies, funding bodies can use the centre's services, from there the relationship are built. - If there is not much changes in service provision context after the reform of service provision pattern, say, Integrated Team, it is likely that the identified variables would still have their effects on the Team-in-charge. The identified variables in this research would still worth attention. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
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| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b12307051.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 3.94 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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