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A Directorate for Children

Steve Libreri Director at Child Protection Services Directorate

The Child Protection Directorate aims at protecting minors from significant harm under the auspices of Chapter 602 of the Laws of Malta, The Minors Protection (Alternative Care) Act.

Through a team of dedicated multidisciplinary professionals the Child Protection Investigation Unit investigates reports of child maltreatment which can vary from physical violence, inappropriate sexual actions, neglect, emotional or physical abuse and children witnessing violence.

Referrals are received from many sources, not only from the public or 179 Supportline, but also from other safeguarding institutions such as the police, social workers, health and education officials. In addition to an ethical obligation to report; these professionals also have a mandatory legal responsibility to pass on any information pertaining to any minor they cross paths with who is at risk.

Contrary to what most think, the primary role of the Child Protection Investigations Unit is not to remove children from their parents’ custody but rather to support and educate the family in providing a safe environment for the minors to reach their maximum potential. This process is not only carried out in house but also through linking service users with a myriad of supportive and educational services offered by the Foundation for Social Welfare Services and by other local Non-Governmental Institutions.

The Child Protection Directorate believes that positive working relationships with such services is vital for the benefit of its vulnerable service users and hence the Directorate has always prioritised establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with other stakeholders in the field.

Unfortunately, there are some situations where despite countless attempts to support the family, the minors remain at risk and in these situations the Child Protection Directorate has a legal obligation to inform and co-operate with the Court to take the necessary measures in ensuring the minors are safeguarded.

In addition to the local scenario, the Child Protection Directorate has an International Dimension which investigates reports of abducted children, child trafficking and unaccompanied minor asylum seekers amongst others.

The Court Services Unit within the Child Protection Directorate has been servicing the Family Courts for these past decades; providing professional assessments and putting forward recommendations in relation to child related issues in separation proceedings.

Such issues may vary from care and custody litigation, child access, child abuse allegations and other issues which the honourable Court may deem necessary to be investigated. The court appointed expert acts independently from all parties or any other professionals supporting the family and presents his/her professional opinion to the Court, who ultimately has the sole authority to decide on the recommendations put forward.

Experience has shown that although there are a significant number of situations which have successfully benefited from the involvement of the Court Services Unit, there are also several minors who are referred to the Unit at a late stage in their parents’ separation process. Often, in high conflict separations, minors are directly exposed to their parents’ marital disputes and entangled into adult issues.

At times, this results in the minor being alienated from one of the parents which may also lead to the minor refusing to have any sort of relationship with the alienated parent. Research shows that alienated children do not only lose out on forming a relationship with their alienated parent and their side of the family but may also face other challenges such as low self-esteem, difficulties with his/her own relationships when they reach adulthood, depression and substance abuse amongst others.

This has always been a preoccupying factor to the Court Services professionals and hence the unit has expanded its operations to aim at reaching service users at an earlier phase of the marital separation process. This is carried out through education and support to couples and families who are contemplating separation. For this purpose, the Court Services Unit accepts referrals from professionals supporting the family and from the individuals themselves.

The family is helped on an individual level and on a group level where the Court Services provides educational and supportive guidance which aim to provide knowledge about the separation process, support the family in this arduous phase and educate on ways of how to continue to co-parent throughout and after the separation. Concurrently, on the same pillars, the unit provides support to the children whom parents are benefitting from the mentioned services.

The Children House which also forms part of the Child Protection Directorate is a childappropriate setting where judicial investigations of violence involving minors as victims or witnesses may be conducted. This supports the judicial system in being more child friendly whilst providing a safe space where the children may receive the support they need, without jeopardising justice.

The Child Protection Directorate may be reached on (+356) 2149 2348 or on www.fsws.gov.mt

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