Social Workers Defend Child Protection Practices, Emphasize Removal as Last Resort

In a significant move to address public misconceptions, the Maltese Association of Social Workers (MASW) has issued a statement defending its members against what it describes as “misinformation” in recent debates over child protection cases in Malta.

The professional body expressed concern about the impact of recent media coverage on the social work profession, particularly following allegations by a mother who claimed her children were removed from her custody without sufficient justification.

MASW welcomed clarifications from Alfred Grixti, chief executive of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS), who emphasized that social workers do not make final decisions on child removal cases. The association stressed that “such decisions are taken by the Court on the basis of the evidence presented,” which “accurately reflects the legal framework and professional practice within Child Protection Services.”

The statement sought to correct several misconceptions that have gained traction in public discourse. MASW emphasized that social workers receive “no form of additional payment or incentive” for issuing care orders or removing children from their homes. They often carry out these duties under “significant emotional pressure and, at times, personal risk, including exposure to threats and intimidation.”

An additional challenge facing social workers is their inability to publicly respond to allegations due to strict confidentiality rules that prevent them from discussing individual cases, even when “allegations or misinformation are being circulated.”

This intervention comes amid heightened scrutiny of Malta’s child protection system. Recent official statistics revealed that over the past five years, the Child Protection Directorate has received nearly 1,900 reports annually, but only approximately 7% of these cases proceeded to court.

Grixti previously emphasized that care orders are “always a last resort,” implemented only after family support interventions have proven unsuccessful. He also noted that families maintain the right to appeal at every stage of proceedings.

The FSWS chief executive highlighted a concerning trend of tactical reporting, revealing that nearly half of approximately 900 backlogged cases are suspected to be reports weaponized by parents in conflict against each other.

MASW reiterated that care orders “are not issued arbitrarily” but follow “a clearly established legal process involving assessment, documentation, supervision, and ultimately judicial oversight.”

“The primary guiding principle of social work practice is the best interest and well-being of the child,” the association stated, adding that “removal from parental care is always considered a measure of last resort.”

The association warned that spreading misinformation not only “undermines professional integrity” but may also “place individual practitioners at risk and erode public trust in essential social services.”

The MASW statement comes amid broader concerns about Malta’s child protection system raised by other professionals. Psychologist Claire Francica recently warned about inadequate training for staff supervising access visits, potentially retraumatizing children. Meanwhile, court delays have left 71 children waiting for long-term care orders, some for more than three years.

Former President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has also voiced concerns that Malta’s court system risks breaching children’s fundamental human rights by failing to implement child-friendly justice processes. Research has shown that children involved in family proceedings frequently feel “invisible and unheard.”

These developments highlight the complex challenges facing Malta’s child protection services, which must balance safeguarding vulnerable children while ensuring fair treatment of families and maintaining public confidence in the system.