The lived experiences of migrant social workers practicing in Malta

Abstract

This research explored perspectives of migrant social workers who are practising in Malta. The purpose of the study was to understand the lived experiences of foreign professionals in terms of perceived challenges and opportunities, as well as to portray how their identity as international practitioners impacts on their daily life in the local context. This phenomenon has not been studied before, thus, the research is considered to be highly relevant considering the recent influx of migrant social workers on the island. Semi-structured online interviews were carried out with five social workers. Participants had to meet the following criteria: to be of non-Maltese origin, to have previously gained their qualification in social work overseas and to be actively practising social work in Malta. The sample consisted of both males and females from EU and non-EU countries. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to analyse the participants’ lived experiences. The findings showed that migrant professionals need to face various challenges on both a professional and a personal level. Relocation to another country and navigating culturally diverse contexts is a distressing experience for all migrants. From a professional perspective, participants identified challenges such as a heavy workload, discrimination, ineffective supervision, lack of relationships as well as difficulties in communication with other organisations, difficulties in finding employment, and gaps in induction training. At the same time the migrant professionals noted various learning opportunities, ability to gain new skills, and stronger relationships with clients due to their foreign nationality, chance for a better life and the chance to explore new cultures. Considering the findings of this study, it is necessary that organisations, policy makers and local practitioners take note of the difficulties faced by migrant professionals and act to facilitate the process of integration in the professional context. It is crucial that organisations employing migrant social workers provide them with comprehensive induction trainings, revise the assigned caseloads, ensure the high standard of supervision, create an inclusive workspace, and strive to develop proper channels for multidisciplinary collaboration. Policymakers need to simplify the process of recognition of qualifications and revise the immigration laws to attract professionals from both EU and nonEU countries. Lastly, Maltese colleagues are encouraged to be more aware of the language barrier and ensure that migrant professionals feel included at the workplace. Further research is highly suggested to obtain valuable perspectives of organisations and service users on their experiences when working with migrant professionals. This qualitative study gave voice to foreign social workers and shed light on their lived experiences.