In this plenary the focus would be data collected about the children who were removed from parental care in 2012 in Malta, and others who were considered for removal from parental care during the same period, but who for some reason were not removed. This data about the 49 children will throw light on the traumatic experiences these children experienced. Data presented will also focus on what the needs of the children who entered care were, whilst also presenting what the needs of the children who were not removed from home were.
The data will be presented in the context of the recent Child Protection (Alternative Care) Act (Chapter 569 of the Laws of Malta), analysing the potential which this legislation has in terms of meeting the needs of children, such as those about whom data was collected.
The suggestions which the data about the children makes in terms of the alternative care context which would best meet their needs will be explored, considering what foster care can offer these children. The skills required of carers will also be detailed, and the training which could help them meet the children's needs will be considered. Recommendations will be made to frontline social wokrers, social work managers, foster carers and policy makers in relation to how they can effectively respond to children in need of protection through a continuum of services that can ensure the interests of children are served, and that the decisions which are taken for children and families are of optimum quality, with the child always being kept at the centre of decisions taken.
