The Ministry for Social Policy and Children's Rights is primarily responsible for social inclusion and serves as Malta’s main provider of social welfare services. Its mission is to enhance quality of life by ensuring adequate social benefits for individuals and families in need, delivering high-quality welfare services, and promoting suitable housing to strengthen local communities. 

Additionally, the Ministry provides long-term care and specialised services for the elderly, with a strong focus on active ageing and enabling individuals to remain in their communities for as long as possible. Equally central to its efforts is the commitment to safeguarding equal opportunities for persons with disabilities across all areas of life. 

The Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) is a government entity established in 1998, operating under the Ministry for Social Policy and Children's Rights. It aims to provide social welfare services, develop and promote social and related studies, and collaborate with similar entities at regional and international levels. FSWS is structured into three agencies and three directorates, Agency APPOĠĠ; Agency SEDQA; Agency for Community and Therapeutic Services (ACTS); the Gozo​ Branch Services Directorate; the Directorate for the Protection of Minors (CPS); and the Directorate for Alternative Care (DAC). 

Aġenzija Appoġġ provides high-quality psycho-social welfare services to individuals and families from all backgrounds, focusing on empowerment, advocacy, and safeguarding well-being. Working in collaboration with various stakeholders, the agency delivers comprehensive support to help individuals address their challenges and improve their quality of life. Its services include Health Social Work Services across different healthcare settings, Domestic Violence Services such as social work support, the STOP! Service, risk assessments, and the emergency shelter Għabex. The Intake and Family Support Service assists those facing homelessness, human trafficking, and sex work challenges. Additionally, Appoġġ operates helplines, including Support Line 179, the Loneliness Helpline 1772, BeSmartOnline, and the After-Hours Emergency Service. 

Through these services, Aġenzija Appoġġ strives to create positive and meaningful change, enabling individuals to reach their full potential with the support, care, and guidance of dedicated professionals. 

The Directorate for Alternative Care (Children and Youth) is dedicated to safeguarding the well-being of children in out-of-home care, vulnerable young people, and young adults. It ensures their voices are heard, their rights are upheld, and their safety is prioritised throughout their development. The Directorate provides a range of services, including Adoption, Fostering, Looked After Children services, Paediatric Support, Supervised Access Visits, Youth Services, Aftercare support, and community homes. It aims to support children and young people throughout their care journey, facilitating reunification with birth families whenever possible and ensuring they transition into adulthood in a safe, nurturing, and stable environment. Committed to adapting to emerging needs, the Directorate continuously enhances its services based on community trends, research, and direct practice. It works collaboratively with all stakeholders involved in a child’s life to create individualised care plans that align with both social and legal safeguarding standards. These plans are reviewed regularly to ensure they reflect the best interests of each child and young person, focusing on family reunification, long-term foster or residential care, adoption, and aftercare support. 

The Directorate for Child Protection Services operates under Malta’s Minor Protection (Alternative Care) Act (Chapter 602) and is dedicated to safeguarding children from harm. It investigates cases of child maltreatment, including physical, sexual, emotional, and psychological abuse, neglect, and domestic violence. The Directorate also supports the Family Courts of Malta and Gozo, providing expert assessments on child welfare in separation proceedings, ensuring that all decisions prioritise the best interests of the child. 

A key initiative is the Children’s House, a child-friendly extension of the courts where minors involved in judicial investigations can provide testimony in a safe and supportive environment. This approach helps make the justice system more accessible to children, ensuring fairness while minimising distress. Additionally, the Directorate addresses serious international child protection issues such as trafficking, abduction, forced marriages, female genital mutilation, online abuse, and unaccompanied minor asylum seekers. 

Under mandatory reporting regulations, all professionals must report suspicions of significant harm to a child. The Directorate plays a crucial role in protecting vulnerable children, ensuring their rights are upheld, and providing the necessary support to help them recover and thrive. 

Aġenzija Sedqa is Malta’s national agency for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, following the recommendations of the Meli Report (1993). It was created to consolidate preventive, medical, and social services related to substance abuse under one organisation, ensuring a structured and effective approach. Over the years, Aġenzija Sedqa has expanded its services to address substance and behavioural addictions through a public health approach. It offers prevention programmes, community-based and residential rehabilitation, therapeutic services, inpatient and outpatient medical care, and opiate substitution treatment. The agency works closely with other institutions to ensure those in need receive accessible and effective support. Remaining committed to evidence-based practice, Aġenzija Sedqa continuously evolves its services in line with emerging trends and research, ensuring the highest standards of care in addiction treatment and prevention. 

The Agency for Community and Therapeutic Services (ACTS) supports individuals, families, and communities in achieving their social and therapeutic goals. It operates through two main branches: Community Services and Therapeutic Services. Community Services consists of social workers, community mentors, and development workers embedded within Maltese communities. Their role is to empower individuals and families, tackling poverty and social exclusion by strengthening family dynamics, improving access to employment, enhancing financial literacy, and promoting household stability. Through community-based initiatives, they collaborate with local residents and stakeholders to foster civic engagement and build inclusive, thriving communities. Therapeutic Services provide holistic support through home-based therapy, psychological services, and parenting programmes. A multidisciplinary team offers therapy, psychological assessments, and evidence-based parenting interventions such as Incredible Years®. By ensuring accessible, high-quality support, ACTS is committed to creating safe, nurturing environments where individuals and families can thrive. 

The Gozo​ Branch Services Directorate aims to offer essential support and care to individuals and families across the island of Gozo. These services focus on promoting well-being, safeguarding vulnerable individuals, and enhancing social inclusion through a variety of initiatives tailored to the needs of the local community. Whether addressing issues of poverty, abuse, or family support, FSWS in Gozo works to ensure individuals have access to the help and resources they need to improve their quality of life. 

Aġenzija Sapport is Malta’s National Agency that offers services, support, and guidance to persons with disabilities, including youths, their support networks, and communities. The Agency provides various services and schemes to enable and empower persons with disabilities to achieve social equity. These include social work services, community-based services, sign language interpretation services, and subsidies for personal assistance services. Among their popular programmes are the Sharing Lives Service, which facilitates participation in events and activities, fostering meaningful relationships with young volunteers, and the Way to Work Programme, which helps individuals with disabilities acquire or enhance skills for employment. Notably, a team of social workers within the Social Work Services focuses on assessing and assisting young people.