“The foster care sector has lost a true professional social worker” in John Role’, National Foster Care Association Malta president Paul Gatt (above) has told The Malta Independent.

This comes after Mr Role’ stepped down from his instrumental position as team leader with the Fostering Agency at Appogg after feeling “unwanted and mistrusted” at the agency. 

Yesterday The Malta Independent on Sunday revealed that that Mr Role’, who was also the founder of the association and used to hold executive position at NFCAM, stepped down from Appogg after finding himself subject to three separate inquiries for passing contact phone numbers of foster carers to NFCAM through Appogg/ In the three inquiries which this newsroom saw, it was established that this was the practice for almost 12 years.  

Mr Role’ is held in high esteem amongst foster carers, so much so, that when he was transferred to another agency with Appogg for no particular reason two years ago, it caused an uproar in the fostering community and the ministry reinstated him back.

The president of NFCAM told this newsroom that “it is indeed sad that the government agency responsible for recruiting foster carers and for providing quality services to children who require foster placements has lost the consistent commitment, enthusiasm and dedication of Mr Role’ to the sector.”

Mr Gatt said that “the experiences which foster carers have of Mr Role’ depict him as a professional who sought to ensure up-to-date training was provided to them. They have experienced him as extremely supportive and understanding, always available to help them face the challenges which bringing up children who have been through traumatic experiences in their childhood brings with it.”

Mr Gatt heavy heartedly said Mr Role’ through his entire life always promoted in a relentless way the interest of the children.  He has always believed that children who require care outside their families deserve the same opportunities which other children in other families have.

The NFCAM president said that, “it was clear that he believed that professionals should not shy away from ensuring that children’s rights are prioritised over adults’ rights when the two sets of rights conflicted; a belief which not all professionals in Malta embrace.”

Mr Gatt told us that Mr Role’ “fought against a system which at times does not value the importance of these two principles in children’s lives, and for this he may have been viewed negatively by some.

“He was always ready to offer practical as well as emotional support to foster carers and fostered children. Hence he will be remembered by all foster carers and children, as his input can be traced in their life stories and positive achievements. Undoubtedly the foster care sector has lost a true professional social worker.”

After Nationalist MP Robert Cutajar  told Parliament last Monday that Mr Role’ left Appogg, the social media was flooded with reactions to his resignation with users praising his impressive career . 

One user said that he “should receive the Gieh ir-Repubblika for the amount of good he did in the country by finding more than 500 boys and girls a loving home”. Other users thanked him for everything he did in the sector, with a majority of them highlighting “the dedication” he put into his work. 

Contacted by this newsroom Mr Role said that, “I was not dismissed or suspended from my work. I took the decision and asked to be seconded to work in another agency because I felt that I could not continue my work with Foundation for Welfare Social Services where I felt unwanted, mistrusted and where I had to struggle hard for the past two years.”

He said that he. “wants to look forward. I will continue my work with International Foster Care Organization, and in collaboration with NFCAM and the President’s Foundation for Wellbeing of Society, we will be hosting an International Foster Care Conference in Malta in November 2017.” 

Questions concerning the case were also sent to Mr Grixti but replies were not forthcoming as of yesterday evening. 

Also read Robert Cutajar's opinion piece here