New regulatory standards covering respite services for carers of persons with disability have been made public

The social regulatory standards and accompanying guidelines were drafted by the newly set up Social Care Standards Authority, and are meant to outline how staff take care of persons with disability.

Some 800 people who care for persons with disability use the respite services provided by the State, to take a break and recharge from the responsibility of full-time care.

Read:21-bedroom respite services centre opens

Matthew Vella, who heads the authority, told Times of Malta that the new standards were based on fieldwork and lengthy discussions with stakeholders. These would now be transposed into law via legal notices due to be published on Tuesday.

Mr Vella said more than 200 on-site inspections had been carried out by the authority in recent months to assess the level of service at respite centres across the island.

Guidelines made public

According to the guideline documents, the standards reflect the rights of clients of respite services based on the principles of dignity, privacy, equality, individuality, and diversity.

They cover the rights of persons with disability, personal support programs, decision taking and inclusion.

Similar guideline documents have recently been drafted by the authority for adoption services, residential care, and day centres. New standards for addiction services and alternative care were next on the authority’s to-do list, Mr Vella said.

Anthony Agius Decelis, Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability, told a press conference that the main concerns of relatives of persons with disability were about the level of service provided by respite centres, the quality of care and safety standards.

These, he said, were central pillars of the new guidelines and standards.

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