Permanent foster care will be introduced and children living in homes will be freed for adoption in specific cases, according to a draft law on children who live in out-of-home care.

The law will also introduce the concept of shared parenting and proposes shifting responsibility of care orders, that currently falls on the social policy ministry, to the courts, allowing for better enforcement.

It also suggests having a registry in court specifically to deal with cases of child protection and making it mandatory for people who work with children to report abuse or negligence, or face a fine.

The law will also broaden the types of care orders that can be issued to better cater for specific circumstances. At the moment there are two types: an interim care order and a care order. Under the new law there will be five types including an emergency care order.

The law suggests the setting up of a Child Court Services that will ensure that the child advocate system is strengthened, a guardian will ensure the child’s best interests are safeguarded and a mediator for child protection will be introduced.

A child assessment centre will also be set up where a social worker will assess where a child should be placed. This will also apply in the case of migrant children. A Children’s House will be set up to serve as a hub where children are assessed and all services given.

The details of the draft law were outlined by Ruth Farrugia, who chairs the National Commission for the Development of Strategy and Policy for Children, during a press conference this morning.

The law is the “first chapter” of the more comprehensive Children’s Act that will pull together legislation aimed at protecting children, Social Solidarity Minister Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said as she presented the draft to Justice Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici.

She said that the draft was put together by a dedicated team following vast consultation with children, birth parents, foster carers, professionals, judges and the Attorney General.