Social welfare is not merely the provision of allowances. It is, in the words of the new Deputy Minister for Welfare, Klea Hadjistephanou-Papaellina, a vision for an inclusive and compassionate society in which everyone has the opportunity to live with dignity. With this commitment she assumed her portfolio, later promising that restructuring the Social Welfare Services (SWS) would be a core priority. If this initial positioning shapes her agenda over the next two and a half years, she may yet lay the foundations for a sustainable and effective social welfare system. The path ahead will not be easy. But there are allies in this effort, provided she seeks them out.
To begin with, there are the conclusions of multiple studies conducted over the years, studies that identified systemic weaknesses and gaps but were never implemented. These studies point clearly toward the reforms required for a holistic modernisation of the system. Then there are the workers themselves, particularly those inside the SWS, who understand better than anyone why Cyprus’ social state has failed so profoundly. They live these failures daily. Their concerns are not primarily union-related. They reflect the chronic dysfunctions of an outdated structure long incapable of offering timely prevention and protection to vulnerable groups.
The shortage and overload of social workers is one of the most pressing issues. Each SWS professional is responsible for managing close to one hundred cases. Many oversee between thirty and eighty children – traumatised children who require understanding, safety and stability. Providing that level of care demands consistent monitoring and personal engagement. The exhaustion of frontline staff, working in one of the most emotionally draining professions, is not only damaging for them; it also undermines the quality and consistency of the services offered.
Equally urgent is the need to end the unlawful practice of assigning social work duties to professionals from unrelated disciplines. On what basis can these individuals perform such sensitive and specialised work? Add to this the glaring absence of methodology, of psychometric tools and other instruments that provide reliable assessments, identify at-risk individuals, and reduce the margin of error when the state intervenes to support vulnerable people.
The new Deputy Minister is expected to move swiftly with a substantive redesign of the SWS. This is what her success will ultimately be measured against. She has already offered a guiding principle upon taking office: hope must be matched with will and a clear plan if real solutions are to be delivered.