Following the journey : social work in Malta 2001-2007

Abstract

The purpose of this research study is to document and describe the developments that happened within the profession of social work in Malta, between 2001 and 2007, and their effects. This research study follows two other research studies done by Schembri (2002) and Abela (2003), which have documented the developments that social work in Malta went through from its origins in 1950s till 2000. For this research study, interviews were carried out with fourteen key interviewees from different social work entities, such as the Maltese Association of Social Workers, and sectors offering social work, such as the Public and Church sectors respectively. Additionally, six practitioners who practised social work during the time-frame studied were also interviewed. In this way the different perspectives of people in diverse positions, from Top Managers to Social Work practitioners, was gathered. Furthermore, some documentation was analysed in order to complement these interviews. From this research study one can see that social work has passed through major developments during the six years on which this study is focused. Developments happened in three main areas, these being the Legislative, dealing with Laws and Public Policies; Institutional focusing on developments happening within entities that offer social work, as well as Staff Developments which highlight the developments that happened within the social work workforce. Social work being declared as a Profession by the Laws of Malta, the importance of standards of practice and the regulation of social work so as to ensure best practice, as well as the dramatic increase in social work services, are some of the changes that were documented in this research study.