Description/Objective

The Social Welfare Services (SWS) Restructuring Project concerns the modernization of services to provide accessible, affordable, user-friendly, and personalized social services aimed at offering holistic support to individuals and families, through a people-centered, multidisciplinary, and effective approach.

The primary objective of the restructuring is to empower and safeguard the rights of vulnerable groups facing a high risk of social exclusion, improve their quality of life, and support their development to the fullest extent of their potential.

Within the framework of the SWS Restructuring Project, the main Actions being promoted are:

1. Modernization of the organization, working methods, and operational principles of the SWS.
2. Introduction of a new SWS information system to facilitate service operations and improve citizen service.
3. Enhancement of the training of SWS Officers and Management Executives through targeted training programmes.
4. Operation of a call center to facilitate citizens’ access to social services.
5. The “Neighborhood Social Worker” Programme, which is implemented by the Local Authorities (LAs) in synergy with the SWS, aiming to strengthen the local network of social care programmes.
6. Strengthening multidisciplinarity in the services provided, including the procurement of services from specialized professionals.
7. Enhancement of support measures for children under the legal care of the State and high-risk families by securing Escorts/Mentors.
8. Provision of external professional supervision to SWS officers due to the psychological burden and fatigue arising from the nature of their duties.
9. Development of a modern vision and strategy to optimize the child protection system in Cyprus, based on a holistic and interprofessional approach that places the best interests of the child at the center, with the contribution of all competent Deputy Ministries/Ministries — primarily the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministries of Health; Education, Sports and Youth; and Justice and Public Order.
10. Promotion of timely and targeted intervention through the implementation of a Risk Assessment and Classification Tool and the determination of actions serving the best interests of the child.
11. Communication services / crisis communication management, which will contribute to better public information and strengthening citizens’ trust in the SWS.

Progress/Implementation Stage

In May 2026, the implementation of the first Action (Action 1) commenced. Over a 40-month period (until September 2029), it will lead, among other outcomes, to the redesign of the procedures and Programmes of the SWS, the redefinition of their organizational structure, the implementation of an optimal performance management and key performance indicator (KPI) system, and the improvement of both the working environment and the citizen service environment.

With respect to Actions 2, 4 and 11, the necessary procedures have been initiated with the aim of launching the relevant tenders within 2026.

The “Neighborhood Social Worker” Programme (Action 5) is implemented nationwide, covering 99% of LAs (19 Municipalities and 282 Communities across 30 Community Clusters). The Programme is governed by Memoranda of Cooperation between the SWS and the LAs, ensuring the mechanisms necessary for the most effective possible response to citizens’ needs at the local level. Through public procurement procedures, the SWS establish rosters of social workers, to whom they provide specialised training programmes, as well as continuous guidance and support, to ensure the highest quality of service delivery to citizens. At the current stage, 34 Social Workers provide frontline services, while 11 Supervising Social Workers oversee the frontline staff and provide administrative support to the Programme. By February 2026, the Programme had provided services to more than 4,000 citizens.

Regarding Action 3, a contract concerning the training of 71 administrative executives (Officers and Institutional Staff) of the SWS has been successfully completed, updating their knowledge in areas of administration (leadership and managerial skills), problem analysis and resolution, human resource management, and strategic planning.

Actions 6 and 8 have also been completed through public contracts, and their outcomes inform the planning of new actions.

Actions 7 and 10 are currently being implemented. Specifically, Action 7 has been implemented since 2021 through relevant public contracts. As for Action 10, through a relevant contract, the preparation of the tool, its pilot implementation, the training of all staff involved and the six-month monitoring of the tool’s implementation have been completed. Since February 2026, the tool has been in use by the responsible Officers.

Regarding Action 9, since May 2026, the competent Ministries and Deputy Ministries, under the coordination of the SWS, have been implementing an initiative aimed at developing and implementing a National Strategy and Action Plan for Child Protection in Cyprus. The overall implementation period is forty-two (42) months, with completion scheduled for the end of 2029.