The disability benefits racket that shocked Malta's social welfare system not only affected vulnerable individuals who are eligible for this assistance, but it has also left a scar on social workers who dedicated their lives to helping those in need, the CEO of the Social Care Standards Authority (SCSA) Ruth Sciberras said.
Sciberras spoke to The Malta Independent on Sunday about the emotional toll on professionals within the sector, saying that they have given their life to this work, saying the scandal "hurt them deeply".
She said that the public tends to generalise, assuming everyone is involved in wrongdoing, when in reality, many professionals are deeply committed to helping those in need.
She stressed that while corruption must be addressed, it is essential to recognise the dedication of those who work tirelessly to support vulnerable people.
The disability benefits racket saw funds handed out to people who were not supposed to be eligible for such financial assistance. Court cases are still ongoing.
Sciberras was asked how the system can be trusted when corruption is leading to further disadvantages for people with disabilities, making it harder for them to access the support they need and deserve.
She said that after the scandal came to light, measures were implemented in a bid to curb the abuse.
"If one steals from vulnerable people, they must bear the consequences," Sciberras said. "Every system has flaws, but we must work to minimise abuse."
"Sometimes people do not realise that when you abuse the system you are robbing yourself from receiving that service should you ever need it, and you might not find it," Sciberras said.
Sciberras said that in most cases, people are law-abiding, but unfortunately, these incidents are "very painful".
She acknowledged the deep impact of the scandal on dedicated social workers within the Social Policy Ministry, adding that their reputation was also tainted.
"When you throw mud, something will stick. These are not just numbers; they are people. And the staff does not see numbers, they see people. They try to address each and every situation immediately," Sciberras said.
She spoke of the ministry's ongoing efforts to refine and strengthen the system, ensuring benefits are allocated correctly.
"When a case like this comes to light, it is mind-boggling for many people, especially those who have dedicated their careers to this profession," Sciberras said.
"When one works somewhere, they are proud of where they are working. When something like this happens, it hurts a lot, because it humiliates the worker," Sciberras said.
Authority starts by giving remedial actions, CEO says
The SCSA plays a crucial role in setting and maintaining standards for social care services.
Recent reports have highlighted "shocking" living conditions in Fondazzjoni Wens homes for persons with disabilities, leading to intervention by the authority.
Asked how these facilities were left to operate under such conditions without earlier detection by regulatory bodies, Sciberras said that the authority started acting immediately once it noticed certain things during its visits.
"We act immediately upon noticing issues, issuing remedial actions," Sciberras said, without going into the merit of the case.
She said that while shutting down a home outright is not an option, alternative placements must be found, and families must be contacted to make them aware and understand the situation.
"We must act with caution. Just shutting down a home would be very irresponsible," Sciberras said.
Sciberras said the authority has to have a plan and a strategy, even in terms of finding alternative placements, and it does not work alone.
Asked if in such cases, the authority then withdraws from renewing the service providers' licence, Sciberras said that it depends on the case, and in this case, the investigation is still ongoing, but the authority did issue a new licence given the change in management of the home.
Asked whether the demand for substance use services has been increasing, Sciberras replied in the negative, and said that the people who need such services need to seek them voluntarily.
While the demand has not increased, facilities like Ibwar, a €1.5m Caritas-run centre, are crucial in supporting affected youth. "Prevention and awareness efforts are essential," Sciberras said, commending organisations such as Caritas, Sedqa and the OASI Foundation for their work.
Funding and human resources are the 'biggest challenges' for service providers
Sciberras identified funding and human resources as the biggest challenges for service providers.
She said that NGOs must rely on fundraising and public-private partnerships, while even the government entities struggle to fill vacancies for social workers.
"The burnout is sometimes inevitable, and staff turnover is frequent," she said, speaking of the demanding nature of social work.
However, she said that many long-serving and new professionals receive strong support and training.
Despite these challenges, Sciberras said that most service providers maintain high standards.
"In the absolute majority of cases, they provide their services with compassion, commitment and dedication," she said.
As a regulatory body, the SCSA issues over 200 licences annually, ensuring compliance while also offering support, she said.
"Although we must act according to our laws as a regulatory body, we are also here to support and help," Sciberras said.
She continued that the authority organises training for service providers and fosters collaboration to enhance service quality.
If a provider falls short, the SCSA issues remedial actions before granting a license, which is a list of what the service provider needs to take action on and abide by. They are also given a realistic timeframe to act upon such issues, she said.
"We are not here to catch them out but to ensure they improve where needed," Sciberras said.
The SCSA also investigates complaints, conducting 1,527 visits in 2024 and addressing around 10 complaints, ranging from minor issues to full-scale investigations.
"Most services do their best and welcome our oversight," she added, adding that the perception of an authority which "checks" on them is changing.
Sciberras said that in the past year, since she was appointed CEO, she has seen the authority become closer to the service providers.
Sciberras was asked how the authority ensures accountability for service providers who fail to meet standards.
By law, service providers need to have a licence to operate, and this licence is issued on a yearly basis, Sciberras said, meaning that they need to apply for it annually.
She continued that during that year, the authority goes to check the premises and management of these service providers, also speaking to service users, going through each aspect of the service.
Sciberras said that the final aim is to ensure that the service is up to standard for the benefit of the service users as well as getting their license.
She called for accountability, and said that the authority investigates even minor concerns, through both surprise and non-surprise visits.
There is always room for improvement
With Malta's aging population and growing demand for social services, Sciberras was asked if she believed that the current regulations and structures are sufficient.
She pointed out that the elderly sector does not fall within the SCSA, but under the remit of the Older Persons Standards Authority (OPSA), as in November 2023, a law was issued where OPSA was created to ensure standards for elderly people.
Having said this, Sciberras said that there is always room for improvement in each and every service.
"We always need to challenge ourselves on how we care for vulnerable persons," she said, noting the importance of evidence-based research and training.
She spoke of AI's potential in social care and stressed the need for continuous staff education.
"Training builds confidence, reduces burnout and improves service quality," Sciberras said.
Additionally, the authority must ensure that both the service quality and the premises meet adequate standards, Sciberras said.
She said that upkeeping certain venues can prove difficult as some are very old, which prompted the question if the authority finds it difficult to find appropriate residential homes. Sciberras acknowledged difficulties in securing appropriate residential homes, particularly for persons with disabilities, children with challenging behaviour and victims of domestic violence.
"These shelters are often full, and finding alternative placements can be a challenge," Sciberras said.
She advocated for de-institutionalisation, favouring smaller, community-based homes.
"Families have genuine concerns, but we must move towards a system that prioritises independent living," Sciberras said.
Sciberras also appealed for people to consider fostering, citing a need for more alternative care options for children.
25 children adopted in 2024
Beyond licensing, the SCSA also functions as Malta's Central Authority for international adoption and cross-border fostering, Sciberras said.
"We are signatories to the Hague Convention, which requires us to oversee these processes," Sciberras said.
In 2024, 25 children were adopted, including 14 from India. Seven females between the ages of one and four were adopted from India, while six males from the same age cohort were adopted at the same time. One child who was adopted was between five and nine years of age.
Moreover, eight Maltese children were adopted in 2024, with their ages ranging from five to over 10 years of age, Sciberras said.
The others were adopted from the United Kingdom, Slovakia and Vietnam, statistics provided by the SCSA showed.
"We licence these adoption agencies, but the adoption process itself is handled by them," she clarified.
Asked if there is a need for upgrading the authority's guidelines, Sciberras said that when the authority issues standards, they serve as a "secondary legislation".
"These standards become law and must be adhered to," Sciberras said.
She said that recent regulations include domestic violence service standards, which are currently under review following public consultation. Once approved, these standards will become like a legal notice.
"We review and look into new services and see where these services need a review of standards or creation of standards from scratch," Sciberras said, adding that the authority makes use of its quality assurance tools.
Sciberras commended the Social Policy and Inclusion Ministries for supporting service providers. She also expressed gratitude to all stakeholders supporting vulnerable individuals, emphasising that without their efforts, the country would not have such a strong social welfare system. "We are not perfect, but we aim to be, and it is our dedication that makes the difference," Sciberras said.
She said that with ongoing challenges and reforms, she remained committed to upholding high standards in Malta's social care sector.