Rage is not usually associated with children, especially those who live in residential care but they are screaming for help to overcome the anger they keep bottled up inside them, according to a counselling psychologist.

"No one is realising how deep these children's problems are... They are not 'sweet little children'. They are very angry. It's rage. It's overwhelming for them and they need immediate help," Sr Jacqueline Jones said.

She proposed that children's homes pool in their resources and, with the assistance of the government, employ a set of professionals dedicated to provide drama and play therapy and anger management to the children in care.

Sr Jones, a counselling psychologist who works in the homes, has just submitted her proposals to the Family Ministry.

Among other things, she suggests that nuns and carers who run homes are empowered to take more decisions in the children's interest. Increasing the staff-children ratio and introducing mandatory counselling and parental education for those who place their children in residential care are other proposals she is making.

One of the most pressing requirements was helping children voice their concerns and express their anger, which was most evident on a Sunday night when they returned to the home after spending the weekend with one or both parents.

"They come back so confused. They question whether their mother loves them and they feel lied to. They fight with one another and some are so angry at their parents they say they want to harm them.... But they are secretive and keep it all inside," she said, adding such children needed lots of love and attention.

She recalled the case of an eight-year-old girl confessing she was worried that her younger sister would speak about what happened at home. Therapy would help children like that girl explore this at a deeper level and act out what was on their mind.

Sr Jones explained that, although the homes worked with psychologists and social workers from Appoġġ - the government's social arm, the service was overburdened, which was why a team of professionals had to be dedicated to residential homes.

As things stood, children in homes were either placed there by the government on a care order, in which case they were the responsibility of the state, or they were taken there voluntarily by their parents. In the second case, they remained under their parents' authority, which meant that nuns and carers who ran the homes had no say over the children.

"There are times when we know that the children are returning to an unhealthy environment when their parents pick them up for the weekend. But we can't do anything to stop them," said Sr Denise Vassallo, the house mother of Dar Sagra Familja in Żabbar.

She gave the example of a mother who rarely visited her child but then interfered to stop the child from being adopted, leaving her stuck in the home.

"I feel we are giving more rights to the parents than protecting the children," Sr Vassallo said. She believed the majority of children wished to be reunited with their family, which was why there was the need to invest more into helping the families through therapy.

Nodding in agreement, Sr Jones said: "Who fights for the children's rights? Why don't we have the authority to stand up for them? We need the power to protect the child from more confusion."

Children also needed more one-to-one attention during their stay at the homes, which was why Sr Jones suggested increasing the number of carers.

She called on the government to chip in and employ people who would alleviate the burden of nuns who barely had time to rest or nurture their spiritual vocation. "Religious staff are exhausted. They are not dealing with ordinary children but angry ones who often vent it out on them. They are human and their patience has a limit," she said.