The role of the youth worker in a Maltese residential home for youth in care

Abstract

The aim of this study is to clearly define the role of a professional youth worker within a Maltese residential home for youth in care. It is also our objective to promote this new profession in our country. We wish to offer concrete proposals, as to where the youth worker can operate within such a residential set up. Our research was based on one particular Maltese residential home, namely, St. Patrick's Residential Home for boys. This residential home is situated in Sliema and is run by the Salesian religious order. The research methods used involved on-site evaluation and interviews. Our analysis was qualitative in nature: As far as possible, proposals made were substantiated by local and foreign literary review. We believe that, the results of our research gave clear evidence that, such a profession, as youth work does indeed have much to contribute towards the well-being of the adolescent in care. Our conclusion is that the introduction of such a profession, within the tapestry of the local social welfare system should be given serious consideration.