Jordan Johnson - Maria de Costa

Maria de Costa (previously Leys) played by Judy Browne, is a social worker. She makes her first appearance on 11 December 2008 and returns on 20 January 2009. She reappears on 13 September and then on 30 September and then once again on 23 November. She then left on 6 December 2010. She returned on 22 March 2012.

She first appears when she visits Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty) following her abuse by Tony King (Chris Coghill). She later informs Tanya Branning (Jo Joyner) that her daughter Lauren Branning (Madeline Duggan) wanted to remain in care. She visits Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner) and her baby Lily Branning, and notes that Stacey appears agitated. She visits Stacey again after Janine Malloy (Charlie Brooks) reports Stacey for neglecting Lily. However, Maria concludes that Lily is not being neglected. She returns and comes to see Stacey for a home visit, not knowing that Stacey has gone missing with Lily. She visits again where Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott) pretends to be Stacey's partner. Maria is so impressed that she says she will not need to visit Stacey again. Maria returns in March 2012 to take custody of George Trott after the death of his mother, Heather (Cheryl Fergison). She later returns George to Shirley Carter (Linda Henry), who is George's godmother, while Social Services try to locate George's father. A week later she returns to collect George to reunite him with his father.