Child Protection Services cases double in five years

The number of cases handled by Child Protection Services has doubled in the past five years and now makes up 18 per cent of all cases overseen by the Foundation for Social Services.

Cases handled by CPS were up 6.4 per cent between 2023 and 2024, reflecting a longer-term pattern of increase in demand for such services. In 2020, CPS handled 2,115 cases. In 2024 it oversaw 4,204.

The increase in cases handled by CPS is partially explained by the introduction of a new law in 2021, the Protection of Minors (Alternative Care) Act. Since the act’s introduction, CPS has managed 16,042 cases, averaging 285 new cases per month.

Figures emerge from the Foundation for Social Services annual report for 2024.

The report noted an increase in senior citizens seeking help for substance abuse and domestic violence issues, in line with an increase for such services by younger cohorts.

“As time goes by, we are seeing more and more of the same issues among the elderly as we see in younger cohorts, and these include problems like domestic violence and substance abuse,” said foundation chief executive Alfred Grixti, giving the example of a man who had been dependent on drugs for 40 years.

The report also showed that the Active Ageing and Community Care service  - that supports older adults facing social and psychosocial difficulties – saw “increasingly complex” cases.

2024 saw a stronger sense of urgency regarding the protection of elderly individuals who are victims of abuse. The service was encountering more cases involving elderly people in dire situations who cannot speak up because they depend on others for care. An increase was also noted in cases of homelessness among the elderly and in situations where residents in care homes have no one to visit them or check on their needs, the report noted.

Cases double over a decade

Speaking during the launch of the report, Grixti said that in 2024 the foundation worked with 24,618 individual service users, accounting for 25,941 cases. This represents a 4.3% increase compared to 2023 and a 97.9% rise since 2013. Over the past eleven years, the number of cases has more than doubled.

Aġenzija Appoġġ handled the largest proportion of cases, 39%, with over 10,000 cases, due to its broad range of services covering domestic violence, health, homelessness, human trafficking, and active ageing support.

The Agency for Community and Therapeutic Services (ACTS), Sedqa, and Alternative Care each accounted for 12% of cases, while Child Protection Services (CPS) represented a higher share at 18%.

At year-end, 44% of cases (11,404) were closed, 37% (9,588) remained active, and 5% (1,426) were on waiting lists. Grixti clarified that “the term waiting list is misleading - it means waiting for a professional, but it does not mean that no one is in contact.”

The support offered by the FSWS increased over the years. Image: FSWS annual report

The foundation’s total waiting list rose from 4.7% in 2023 to 6% in 2024, mainly due to CPS, which saw a 6.4% increase and contributed significantly to the overall waiting list.

Data showed that 84% of service users were Maltese, with slightly more females (53%), and an even distribution across age groups. The top five presenting problems across services were health-related issues, child abuse, domestic violence, addictive behaviours, and mental health challenges.

A record number of employees

For 2024, the foundation operated with a budget of €36.5 million, quadrupling over the past decade. It also surpassed the 1,000-employee milestone, closing the year with 1,019 employees - 77% of whom are qualified professionals providing direct, in-person support, and 79% of whom are female.

Between 2020 and 2024, Aġenzija Appoġġ reported a 39% increase in case referrals. In 2024 alone, workers handled 10,039 cases, an 11% increase over 2023 - more than 800 additional cases year-on-year.

The main reasons why people sought help. Image: FSWS annual report

The BeSmartOnline Helpline managed 949 cases in 2024, compared to 889 in 2023 and 730 in 2022, showing a consistent upward trend that reflects growing trust in services and a greater need for online safety support.

Supportline 179 and Helpline 1772 received a total of 11,068 calls, including 6,214 from females and 4,785 from males. The vast majority - 10,905 - were from adults, while 156 were from minors. Most callers sought listening or informational support, primarily regarding loneliness and mental health issues.

The Adoption Service achieved several milestones in 2024, finalising five intercountry adoptions, completing seven local adoptions, and securing three new matches, including a first-time match with Bulgaria (currently in transition) and two matches with Slovakia, strengthening existing partnerships.

The Directorate for Child Protection Services (CPS) intake team received 1,564 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect involving 1,891 minors, including 100 unaccompanied minors. 

Children’s House - used when children need to testify in court -  services saw a marked rise in use, from eight children in 2023 to 27 in 2024, reflecting increased awareness and adoption of child-friendly justice practices.