John Rolé steps down again as foster care team leader at Appogg

Senior social worker John Rolé has once again stepped down as head of the foster care team at Appogg.

This was revealed by Opposition MP Robert Cutajar during a debate in Parliament, who warned that people at Appogg had tried to humilate and “take steps” against Rolé and that the social worker had been forced to resign.

“Everybody who has touched the fostering sector knows how capable Rolé is, but he has now had to bow his head to those who wanted to kick him out,” he said.

He also warned that certain people at Appogg are being hired due to their political connections, and urged the government not to allow the agency to descend into non-meritocracy.

Social solidarity minister Michael Farrugia responded that there was perfectly legitimate grounds as to why action was planned against Rolé.

“If he had given me permission to say exactly what happened and why steps were being planned against him, then I would do so right here, but since I don’t have that authorisation, ethical standards preclude me from doing so.”

Two years ago, Appogg decided to transfer Rolé from his long-term post as foster care team leader. The decision was harshly criticised by foster parents and the Nationalist Party, and Rolé was ultimately retained in his post following an intervention by social solidairty minister Michael Farrugia.

Cutajr urges inquiry into plastic cutlery at old people’s homes

During his speech, Cutajar also urged the government to order an independent inquiry into allegations that elderly residents at an old people’s home are being made to eat meals with reused plastic cutlery.

The Times reported last week that residents at the government’s old people’s home in Mosta have been eating meals with plastic cutlery since the home’s dishwasher broke down a few weeks ago.

Addressing Parliament during a debate on the Budget, Cutajar lambasted the revelations as “disgusting and shameful” and added that he had also heard that staff have been told to wash the plastic cutlery to be reused the following day.

“I am not calling for an internal inquiry but for a fully independent investigation to find out exactly who gave the staff this order,” he said. “Before we start talking about laws that such basic problems stop taking place. We are in a race to the bottom where old people’s homes are concerned.”

Moreover, Cutajar claimed that elderly patients at St Vincent de Paule are being housed in the same ward as other patients with infectious diseases. He also recounted the story of a 70-year-old cancer patient who lives by himself and is on a waiting list to enter SVDP.

“Until recently, he was housed at Mater Dei, but he has now been warned that the police will be called in if he continues refusing to go home,” he said.

Parliamentary secretary for the elderly Justyne Caruana brushed off her opponent’s warnings.

“Il-marelli, you had to mention the dishwasher...I’d have you know that the dishwasher was an old one and that we are currently in a process to acquire a newer and better dishwasher than the one that was used under the PN administration.”

She also said that the government has invested in refurbishment and employing new medical staff at the same Mosta home, and that his allegation of patients at SVDP was not possible as isolation rooms exist in the home.