FAQ's 
FSWS
If the services that you are receiving from FSWS are voluntary in nature, then no personal data may be gathered, stored, and processed without your consent. Typically, the first worker you meet from FSWS provides you with a declaration for you to sign, whereby you give your consent for this data collection to take place.
You have a right to refuse to give your consent to process your personal data; however, this might limit the services we could offer you significantly.
Once you provide your consent so that we can process your personal data, you have additional rights. These include:
The right to be informed – FSWS has the responsibility to inform you what personal data it is retaining about you and for what purpose.
The right of access – You can access your personal data held at FSWS, where you need to put your request in writing and allow a month to be provided with this information. However, there might be certain instances where we cannot accede to your request. If this happens, we will inform you about it.
The right to rectification – You have the right that FSWS keeps the correct data about you; therefore, you are to inform FSWS with any significant changes in your personal data. You also have the right to check whether such rectifications were affected or not.
The right to erasure/to be forgotten – Once your contact with FSWS ends, your personal data is kept for a period of time, and then it is erased or transformed in a way that it can no longer be associated with you.
The right to restrict processing – In the case of voluntary services, you have a right to control what happens to your personal data, such as restricting FSWS from passing on your personal data to other agencies without your consent. This might, however, have an impact on the quality of the service you are provided with.
The right to data portability – Should you decide to ‘transfer’ your personal data gathered by FSWS to another service agency, you should notify FSWS about this in writing.
The right to object to automated decision making and profiling – You have the right to be informed about whether your personal data is used to take automated decisions about you, for example about whether you are eligible to benefit from a service or not. You also have the right to object that such automated procedures are used.
The right to withdraw your consent – If you are benefitting from a voluntary service from FSWS, you have the right to withdraw your consent regarding the processing of your personal data at any time of your contact with the service. Ideally, you do this in writing. Should this happen, the range of services offered and their quality may be impacted.
The social loan scheme support individuals who struggle financially to purchase their home. The entities involved in this scheme [the Housing Authority, the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, APS Bank, and Bank of Valletta] provide the necessary guidance and assistance to beneficiaries.
The bank sanctions 10% of the total property price to be held as a guarantee between the buyer and seller as a promise of sale.
Free Notary Services
Free Legal Bank Fees
Repayment subsidy of up to €166 monthly (subsidy amount is measured according to one’s status)
Persons over 18 years of age
A person bearing a Maltese Citizenship
Persons employed on a full-time basis
Persons who do not own a residential unit
Yearly gross income should not exceed:
€20,354.64 for couples
€19,354.64 for single parents having children living with them
€18,354.64 for single/separated/divorced/annulled/widowed persons
€20,354.64 for persons with a disability or a member in the household with a disability
Persons who do not possess assets exceeding €23,000
Eligible individuals who would like to apply should contact the Housing Authority on 2299 1000 / 8007 2232 (Freephone) or visit the Housing Authority premises at 22, Housing Authority, Pietro Floriani Street, Floriana, FRN 1061. Individuals are to fill in an application online or in-person and provide the required documentation. The list of documents can be found on https://housingauthority.gov.mt/en/Pages/Schemes/Home-Assist-Scheme-BOV.aspx
Please click on the link below should you wish to apply online.
APS and Bank of Valletta (BOV) are collaborating with the Housing Authority and the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS). Beneficiaries can choose the bank with which they would like to apply.
Step 1: Apply with the Housing Authority
Step 2: If found eligible for the scheme, a representative from FSWS shall contact you to schedule an interview.
Step 3: The application shall be referred to either APS Bank or BOV.
Step 4: The Bank shall make contact to inform you of the loan amount eligibility.
Step 5: Search for property
Step 6: When a desired property is found, sign the Housing Authority Agreement.
Step 7: Sign the Promise of Sale Agreement (Konvenju).
Step 8: When the Sanction Letter is processed from the bank, sign the Final Property Contract.
The maximum loan amount eligibility is that of €120,000. Loan eligibility is subject to the final decision of the bank.
The property price should not exceed €140,000.
You can contact one of the FSWS representatives on 22588983 for further guidance.
The Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived, or as is more known as the FEAD, is co-financed by the European Union program which ran runs until 2020.
Deprived households, particularly those including children and elderly, will be targeted through the periodic distribution of food packages. Emphasis will be placed on improving the living standards of people living in these households and alleviating their risk of poverty. Families will not merely be given food for free, but also the social support necessary.
Those persons who fall under one of the general eligibility criteria categories mentioned below will receive the same value of food products (Package A). Furthermore, those who are eligible under category 2 but have 3 or more children under the age of 16 will receive an additional food package (Package B), which comprises of half the food products of package A.
General eligibility criteria:
1. Families who receive a non-contributory benefit and pass the Means Test, and have 2 or more children under the age of 16;
2. Families who have 2 or more children under the age of 16 and have an income of less than 80% of the National Minimum Wage;
3. Families who have 2 or more children under the age of 16 and whose income does not exceed the National Minimum Wage; and
4. Families (and not single persons) receiving a non-contributory Age Pension.
An eligible person does not have to submit an application to benefit from this scheme.
Those who may benefit from this programme receive a letter in advance informing them about their eligibility and the centre, dates, and time they can collect the food package/s they are entitled to.
This food package is distributed 3 times a year.
The State-Funded Food Distribution Scheme, or as is more known as the SFFD, is given to people who are most in need and is entirely funded by the state
i) Households in receipt of a non-contributory benefit (Unemployment Assistance, Special Unemployment Benefit, Social Assistance, Social Assistance Board, Single Unmarried Parent, Carer’s Allowance, Increased Carer’s Allowance and Age Pension), having 1 child below the age of 16;
ii) Households eligible for a non-contributory means-tested Age Pension with single status;
iii) Households in receipt of the Energy Benefit:
o Having 1 child only below the age of 16 years;
o Having 2+ children below the age of 16 years;
o Having all children OVER the age of 16 years; or
o Having no children at all; and
iv) Households in receipt of a disability pension (Disability Assistance, Severe Disability Assistance, Increased Severe Disability Assistance and Visual Impairment Assistance) and who are in employment.
Eligible persons do not have to submit an application to benefit from this scheme.
Those who may benefit from this programme receive a letter from the Department of Social Security informing them about their eligibility and also about the centre, dates, and times as to when they can collect the package. This letter has a barcode which is to be used when collecting the items. Beneficiaries are also asked to sign a consent letter and declaration if any other social assistance is required.
Eligible persons do not have to submit an application to benefit from this scheme.
Those who may benefit from this programme receive a letter from the Department of Social Security informing them about their eligibility and also about the centre, dates, and times as to when they can collect the package. This letter has a barcode which is to be used when collecting the items. Beneficiaries are also asked to sign a consent letter and declaration if any other social assistance is required.
You can apply by submitting the relevant documentation mentioned in the vacancy via email at this address: [email protected] or by sending them via standard mail. Applications received after the deadline shall not be considered.
You can call the Human Resources Department on telephone number 22588900 and ask for Human Resources personnel.
Yes. If you are in possession of all the necessary qualifications and criteria listed in the call, you shall eventually be called for an interview.
FSWS has a collective agreement with rather competitive salaries. Salaries depend on the profession for which the individual is applying.
Once an employee successfully passes the probation period, the contract of employment shall automatically change to an indefinite basis one.
For the majority of recruits, the probation period is generally 6 months. However, for individual professionals, the probation period is that of 12 months, as stipulated by law.
FSWS provides an array of training opportunities for all employees, starting with induction, as well as other beneficial training throughout the course of employment.
There are myriad of benefits when working with FSWS, which include a good salary package with a career path, job security, and obtaining experience from other professionals through coaching and mentoring.
The International Relations Department was established within the FSWS Head Office in 2017, and since March 2019 it has formed part of the International Relations and Research Department.
The mission of the IR Department is to coordinate, implement, and manage the FSWS Policies in International Relations and promote the interests and values of FSWS.
The IR Department’s vision is to combine different sectors within the FSWS that deal with foreign issues and also to foster the relationship between international organisations that plan, manage, and implement Social Services in the area of Social Care, Social Work, and Social Policy. The International Relations Department also serves as a bridge for the possibility to expand its role within the International field.
The Department comes across a variety of challenges when addressing issues referred by the Agencies within the Foundation. In order to address the various encountered matters and other concerns, the International Relations Department:
assists the Agencies with questions related to service users on an international level;
supports the Training Department and other FSWS workers;
follows up on Travel Reports of employees who travel for missions abroad;
keeps constant contact with International Stakeholders, including but not limited to the European Social Network and International Social Services; and
coordinates international and local documentation, dossiers, public consultations, and other papers.
The following are the main objectives:
To conduct and coordinate the international relations of FSWS and promote its services with both domestic counterparts who deal with foreign affairs, and also international stakeholders within the field of social services;
To actively participate and engage in national and international meetings, conferences, and other events related to priorities laid down in the vision of the Department;
To keep updated with changes and new realities taking place at an international level within the social policy sphere;
To preserve, foster, and expand the close links already established with European and International Organisations;
To contribute to the formulation of policies through active participation as requested by European and International partner organisations;
To identify new paths in order to develop new relations with domestic and international institutions, organisations, and other stakeholders working within the fields of social care, social work, and social policy;
To actively participate in delegations, missions, meetings, and other opportunities that may arise from time to time within the field of intercountry adoptions; and
To assist children and families in distress or on the move, as and where requested, in collaboration with the different agencies within FSWS.
Generic telephone number: 22588900
Generic email: [email protected]
Publicly available data can be accessed through the FSWS publications section on this website or through the following link: https://fsws.gov.mt/fsws/publications/publications/
Requests for statistics for media use can be made by contacting the Marketing and Communications Department by email: [email protected]
Other requests for statistics that have not been published should be made through the Operations Director of the relevant FSWS agency. The request should identify the reason for the requested data and any supporting documentation.
Yes, this is possible. A research request needs to be submitted to the Research Office. Information about the FSWS research request procedure, as well as forms that need to be submitted, can be accessed through the following link: https://fsws.gov.mt/fsws/requests-for-research/requests-for-research/
Once the necessary information has been received, it is reviewed under several criteria, such as relevance, ethical standards, impact on service users and service provision, and the potential availability of participants. The outcome of the review is generally communicated to the applicant within 4 weeks. Should the request be approved, service users or staff members would still need to consent to participate in the study.
The SA&QA is an internal function within the FSWS Head Office. Its role is to ensure a high standard of service delivery across the Foundation, including the agencies which it incorporates. The unit aims to ascertain that operational activities are strategically planned, implemented, and followed up. Staff members’ and service users’ input is essential to assist SA&QA in enhancing the quality of services provided.
The Service Audits, Quality Assurance Professional Development Department is responsible for a number of tasks within FSWS. These include:
audits and follow-ups;
coordination of requests for data/information about FSWS;
follow-ups, coordination, and reviews of strategies and standards;
students’ placements; and
accreditation of services.
FSWS believes in students and thus encourages its services to welcome them within its various operations. Throughout the year, we have several requests from students to be on placement with the Foundation, such as from the University of Malta, MCAST, post-secondary schools, and even internships from abroad. Student placements vary from a few hours to months. Every student is assigned a contact person from the respective service, where the placement takes place to ensure that the student gets the best possible positive experience throughout the placement.
The FSWS believes that students can have a beneficial exposure from its various agencies when considering the amount of experience that its professional workers have and also the vast array of services that it offers. In general, students are after the comprehensive specialisation of services that FSWS has on its spectrum.
As much as possible, we appeal for entities to communicate with us, especially in cases where large groups are concerned. The aim is to understand better what is being expected out of the placement, and we also discuss which services are best to take on these students. For instance, with regard to the University of Malta and MCAST, we have a system whereby we are informed beforehand with the number of students in the course that will be doing a placement and whether there were any changes in the placement format to meet the students’ learning needs effectively.
Then there are students, such as those studying Systems of Knowledge, that approach us individually. We determine the number of hours they would need for their placement, and we communicate with our services accordingly.
We are adopting a system whereby we are trying to match the student’s needs with those of the services. For instance, there are various projects within the community that cater to children and where we would need several volunteers. We thus send students to these projects which would require a few, but regular, hours.
Persons and or entities wishing to carry out a placement as part of their academic studies are requested to send an email on [email protected] or contact us on 22588900.
The Economics Unit aims to carry out research that focuses on the cost and the benefits of our services together with effectiveness analyses.
