Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1533342
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 16 MARCH 2025 6 COMMERCIAL A day in the life of a social worker IN the 1990s, social work was of- ten seen as a profession focused primarily on marginalized groups, such as children in care, single mothers and individuals with mental health issues. Over the years the demands on social workers in Malta have increased dramatically due to social changes, such as smaller fami- ly units, greater work pressures and more isolated lifestyles. While these changes have made social work more necessary pub- lic perception still often misrep- resents the profession. Social workers today deal with a range of issues including child abuse, domestic violence, sub- stance abuse and poverty. Many people are unaware of their roles in settings like schools, hospitals, law courts and residential homes for the elderly. A social worker's job is to assess situations, advo- cate for individuals, and collab- orate with other professionals to help people improve their lives and reintegrate into society. De- spite this, social workers are of- ten misunderstood, with some perceiving them as cold-hearted "kidnappers" or as ineffective professionals who leave vulnera- ble children in harmful situations. A typical day for a social worker begins with numerous calls from individuals seeking help. Often, people expect immediate solu- tions to their complex problems and social workers are required to empathize and comprehend their clients' struggles. Whilst so- cial workers may wish they could solve problems instantly they must respect everyone's autono- my and dignity. They work with clients to understand their issues and guide them towards finding solutions, all the while maintain- ing a professional boundary. This involves listening to people in distress, often deeply involved in situations of abuse, addiction or trauma. One of the greatest challenges is balancing empathy with pro- fessionalism. Social workers need to understand their clients' ex- periences without becoming too emotionally invested. For exam- ple, it's difficult to grasp how an abused woman can still love her abuser or why someone contin- ues destructive behaviour despite the consequences. Social workers must help clients confront these issues while ensuring they do not justify harmful actions. This re- quires immense emotional resil- ience. Additionally, social workers face resistance from other pro- fessionals who may focus only on their specific areas of expertise, sometimes ignoring the broader context of a person's situation. While collaboration is essential, it can be challenging when oth- er professionals do not share the same holistic perspective. Fur- thermore, social workers often deal with clients who become aggressive or even violent when their expectations are unmet or when they feel frustrated with the system. Social workers also face physi- cal and emotional threats, from verbal abuse to more serious acts of violence. Despite these chal- lenges, they persevere, remaining committed to promoting human dignity, respect and self-worth. Their job is not only about help- ing clients overcome immediate crises but also about fostering long-term well-being. Though the job can be emotion- ally taxing, it also has its rewards. Social workers often form deep, trusting relationships with clients, who share their most personal struggles. There are moments of joy when clients find stability, gain confidence or can move for- ward in their lives. These small successes, though not always vis- ible to the public are what keep social workers dedicated to their work. They may not change the world but they can help individu- als find hope and healing. Being a social worker means carrying the weight of society's most vulnerable, understanding their pain and working tirelessly to improve their lives. While they face significant challenges, their commitment to social justice and human dignity remains the foun- dation of their profession. Being a social worker may also mean laughing with clients. Clients share their stories and experienc- es and pour their heart out. But they also cry with us, they trust us and look for guidance and support, even on superficial mat- ters. This is the result of constant work with other people, helping them live life with dignity and self-respect. By Andreana Gellel MCA renews collaboration with FITA for web accessibility monitoring THE Malta Communications Authority (MCA) has renewed its collaboration with the Foundation for IT Accessibility (FITA) by signing a three-year Memorandum of Understand- ing. Under this agreement, FITA will continue assisting the MCA in monitoring pub- lic sector websites and apps in compliance with Directive (EU) 2016/2102—the Web Ac- cessibility Directive. The aim of this directive is to improve the accessibility level of public sector websites and apps across all member states. The directive requires all public sector entities in Malta to follow a common web acces- sibility standard based on the European EN 301 549 frame- work, "Accessibility require- ments for ICT products and services." This standard has been updated to align with and exceed the Web Content Ac- cessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1), ensuring digital accessi- bility for all users, regardless of disabilities. The MCA is responsible for implementing and enforcing this directive, which was trans- posed into Maltese law in 2018. Since then, an ongoing regula- tory process has been adopted to assess and track the acces- sibility level of public sector websites and applications. The directive outlines two types of assessments: Simpli- fied and In-Depth. Simplified assessments rely primarily on automated tools, while In- Depth assessments involve comprehensive manual test- ing by specialised users with diverse disabilities who utilise assistive technologies for thor- ough testing. Involving users with disabilities in these as- sessments ensures that testing effectively identifies issues that might be missed by automated tools. The MCA has found FITA's expertise and experience in the ICT disability sector essential for conducting comprehensive In-Depth evaluations. Each year, the MCA with the assis- tance of FITA carries out 21 In-Depth Assessments on pub- lic sector websites and mobile apps. MCA and FITA collabo- rate also on awareness-raising initiatives and are in continu- ous communication to explore possibilities of refining the monitoring process, making it as effective as possible.