Restructuring of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, which runs government support agencies like Appoġġ and Sedqa, is expected to start in the beginning of the year provided the necessary funds are allocated.

“We have made our requests and are now waiting to see what funds will be allocated in the upcoming Budget,” Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia told Times of Malta when contacted.

In July, Dr Farrugia announced that the foundation would become an authority and that the restructuring would include measures to cut waiting lists and address the shortage of social workers.

The urgent need to address staff shortage at Appoġġ was recently flagged by Judge Philip Sciberras who recommended that a plan be drafted to beef up the agency’s financial and human resources, putting it in a better position to carry out its wide-ranging duties.

He made the recommendation in the inquiry report in which he absolved Appoġġ social workers in the case of two German children who were snatched from under their care and taken back to Germany last July.

The abduction took place through no fault of the agency but due to the “arrogant and unethical” behaviour of a German social worker, the judge concluded.

A number of Appoġġ workers testified in the inquiry that they were stretched to the limit. In the same week of the abduction, they had to urgently find places for 21 children who were on their waiting list.

93

– children on protection services waiting list

The judge said the agency needed to spread its load because, under the current system, many social workers and trained professionals were leaving the agency.

An agency spokesman said there were 167 trained professionals, including social workers, with Appoġġ. This excluded administrative staff, social support workers and support workers.

Since 2012, there was an average of nine resignations by social workers every year mainly due to career progression and family reasons.

The spokesman said there were 93 children on the waiting list for protection services because of serious cases of abuse and severe neglect.

However, the number of children on the list dropped since last December, when there were 159.

All cases concerning children are assigned priority upon assessment and dealt with at the earliest possible opportunity depending on the severity of each individual case.

Priority is given to cases involving children under the age of three, cases of sexual abuse and constant abuse and children under care orders, among other things.