SINGAPORE - The Republic's network of social service offices (SSOs) is now complete, with the official opening of the SSO @ Taman Jurong on Tuesday (Dec 15).
This is Singapore's 24th SSO since the social service model started in Kreta Ayer in July 2013.
While the network is complete, SSOs will continue to evolve and integrate services so it can be more efficient, said Minister for Social and Family Development (MSF) Tan Chuan-Jin.
SSO officers at Taman Jurong, for example, have been trained by Workforce Development Agency so they can offer employment help to residents.
SSOs will also work closer with family service centres and voluntary welfare organisations near their locations.
The SSO @ Taman Jurong, for example, shares working space with Fei Yue Family Service Centre so officers from both sides can work closely, under one case manager.
At the SSO's opening, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam also said that information sharing between MSF and the Health Ministry has improved. There is a system in place for residents to consent to data sharing so hospitals will know if residents are on long-term assistance schemes from SSOs.
"There is no need to go for a whole new round of means-testing," said Mr Tharman, who is also an MP in the Jurong GRC.
