Malta

Translate this page with Google Translate

Listen to the article » Play Pause Resume Stop

Recommendation

The national government should create a national catalogue or social services portfolio describing social benefits and social services which are available in Malta and their criteria/ eligibility.

Social Services Policy and Legal Framework

Right to access social services ❌

There is no social services act. Instead, access to social rights is recognised through specific acts such as:

Chapter 602 of the Minor Protection (Alternative Care) Act
Chapter 581 of the Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence Act
Chapter 582 of the Social Care Standards Authority Act
Subsidiary Legislation 595.18 of Aġenzija SAPPORT (Establishment as an Agency) Order.
Chapter 627 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
Chapter 413 of the Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act.
Chapter 210 of the Persons with Disability (Employment) Act.
Chapter 557 of the Persons within the Autism Spectrum (Empowerment) Act.
Chapter 556 Malta Sign Language Recognition Act.
Chapter 560 Parking Concessions for Persons with Disability Act
Chapter 633 Convention on the International Protection of Adults (Ratification) Act

Definition of social services ❌

There is no legal definition of social services, but generally, social services are understood as social benefits and social care (social welfare services).

Social welfare services refer to a broad range of services provided to individuals with needs arising from disabilities, age-related issues, and other social factors. They are not limited to one particular age or population group and are provided in many forms, ranging from child protection to residential, independent living support in the case of disability and end-of-life care.

National catalogue of social services ❌

There is no catalogue or social services portfolio The Social Care Standards Authority defines the types of facilities and procedures that all providers must have and implement. All Social Regulatory Standards are enacted by Legal Notice and are, therefore, legally binding.

Strategic plan for social services ❌

Responsibilities of national authorities 🤝

Financing: The national government finances social services.

Provision: National Agencies, private, non-governmental or church organisations provide social services.

The National Agency FSWS provides social welfare services, including those for children and adolescents with challenging behaviour, homeless persons, addictions, and domestic violence. It also assists carers of terminally ill family members and provides psycho-social aid and palliative care.
The national agency Aġenzija Sapport, offers services to persons with disabilities, their support networks, and their communities to achieve social equity.
The national agency Active Ageing and Community Care (AACC) provides community and long-term care services for older people.
The Housing Authority in Malta provides and promotes social and affordable housing, stability, and social mobility.
NGOs offer services under the Voluntary Organisations Act. Their finances are generally supplied through Public Social Partnerships with the national government and fundraising.

Social Services Expenditure

Source: National Statistics Office, 2022

Coverage

Long-term care for older people

Number of older people aged 65+: 128,930 (in 2021) / 25 % of total population
Number of older people aged 65+ receiving publicly funded long-term care support services such as house cleaning (2023): 32,116* / 25 % of older people
Number of older people aged 65+ receiving publicly funded professional long-term care (2023): 53,350* / 41 % of older people

Sources:

Source: Census of 2021
Source: Internal Statistics held by Active Ageing and Community Care (AACC) *The same person may receive more than one service and is therefore counted more than once.
Source: Internal Statistics held by Active Ageing and Community Care (AACC)

Source: Internal statistics by Active Ageing and Community Care and by Older Persons Standard Authority

Support services for people with disabilities (PWD)

Disclaimer: Aġenzija Sapport could only provide in-house statistics of persons registered with the agency’s services and should not be considered representative of Malta overall.

Source: Aġenzija Sapport & SCSA

*This includes the total number of PWD residing in residences managed by Aġenzija Sapport and those living in NGO residences under PSP with the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector (MIV).

** An accurate figure cannot be provided as one person may have been registered with or benefit from more than one service for this review period.

There are, 44 residential and 14 daycare and 11 respite care facilities for people with disabilities.

Source: SCSA

Child Protection Services

Number of placements in alternative care, by type: 607 (in 2023)
Family-based care: 390 / 64 %
Residential care: 217 / 36 %

Number of placements in family-based care: 390

Children and youth may have more than one placement during the same year. Therefore, the figure above provides the total number of active placements per type of placement.

Number of placements in residential care: 217