Recommendations from the Beyond COVID-19 Taskforce were released today in a guide for social service agencies (SSAs) and stakeholders to strengthen the resilience of the social service sector in managing future challenges, titled “Emerging Stronger Together – A Guide Beyond COVID-19”. The Taskforce is a Singapore Together Alliance for Action set up by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) in May 2020, to support the sector in responding to COVID-19 and propose directions and plans for a stronger social service sector in the longer term.

Since the launch of the NCSS Enhanced Volunteer Manager Funding Scheme (Enhanced VMFS) on 19 August 2020, 44 professionals, managers and executives have been hired under the scheme as dedicated volunteer managers at social service agencies (SSAs), with 6 more coming on board in the coming months. The two-year scheme supports SSAs in obtaining manpower that can help them transform and adapt their services in the new normal through strengthening their volunteer management capacity. 

NCSS launched the Beyond the Label media guide at a dialogue session attended by representatives of the media, SSAs, partner agencies and persons in recovery. Developed in consultation with representatives from the media, SSAs and persons in recovery, the media guide is a resource for journalists and media professionals, providing guidelines on the portrayals and reporting of mental health issues or writing about incidents involving persons with mental health conditions. The media guide includes information like stigmatising words to avoid, and helplines and resources that can be shared with the public. 

MSF and NCSS are developing an Industry Digital Plan (IDP), in consultation with the social service sector and an Advisory Panel. The IDP provides systematic guidance on how social service agencies (SSAs) can assess and accelerate their digitalisation.