Training offered to Aġenzija Sapport staff

Support Workers, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Counsellors and other professionals are the major frontliners in the Agency, since they provide constant support and care to the Agency’s clients. Hence, the Agency invests in recruiting and training employees to provide effective support and improves the quality of life of service users.

Christabel Borg is an HR Executive in People Management and Employee Well-Being A ġenzija Sapport believes that the provision of training to its employees is a really important and fundamental component as part of its daily operations. In order to guarantee the highest level of service to our clients, the

Agency gives importance to staff training on both a formal and an informal, hands-on level. The Agency invests and provides various training opportunities to all employees working in different Departments.

Induction training is the first training offered to all employees upon recruitment. Such training will help the newly recruited employees to familiarise themselves with the different services provided at the Agency, as well as to understand our policies, procedures, goals and expectations. Furthermore, we explain in detail the Agency’s vision and mission in order to understand our philosophy and values to ensure that all staff members move in the same direction, towards a unified vision. Apart from induction training, colleagues and leaders also give on-the-job training and explanation of their role within the Agency.

Even though all employees are recruited based on specific eligibility criteria, including qualifications and/or previous work experience, we strongly believe the importance of both on-thejob and off-the-job type of training. Therefore, the majority of training provided is tailor-made according to the different needs, service and methods of training.

We offer training that covers all the principles and fundamentals required to work in the field to further develop knowledge amongst workers. Such training primarily includes first aid, mental health first aid, firefighting and food handling. Training is organised either internal or external depending on the proposed training programme identified by management, targeted group and training area.

The trainers we work with have different experiences, abilities and specialisations and in this regard, the employees’ knowledge on the subject is amplified. Moreover, other specialised ongoing training is offered to our employees, including Active Support, Positive Behaviour Support, Sex Education and Disability, training on behaviours of concerns, Domestic Violence, Best Parent Practices and Sign Language. Both local and international trainers and training opportunities are identified and tapped into, ensuring that Sapport employees not only gain knowledge and enhance their self development, but are also given the opportunity to share and benefit from best practices in other international entities specialising in disability.

Besides the above, within the Agency, we have different Departments including Finance, Administration & Procurement, Service Audit & Quality Assurance and Marketing Department, although none of these are what we call frontline services. The Human Resources and Training Department collaborates with these Departments to conduct a training needs analysis, in order to assess and identify what type of training is required.

Some of the specialised training provided by the Agency include health and safety at the workplace, multiculturalism, lean auditing, fiscal responsibility and public procurement, basic principles in relation to supervision, employment law, tax and revenue and payroll updates. Other training is provided on branding workshops, easy-to-read documents and media training.

Employees also have the opportunity to attend seminars and conferences organised by other entities in order to progress in their process of professional and personal development. These are organised by different speakers in the field coming from private organisations, universities and institutions in order to offer opportunities to share experiences, learn new concepts, enhance techniques, interventions and competencies. Staff members benefit not only from training that is provided by the Agency directly but also by their participation in training organised by entities locally or internationally. The latter helps employees to attain and expose themselves in direct experience of similar and diverse services offered abroad.

Aġenzija Sapport is currently also an active partner in the ESF project 2.63 – Knowledge, Training, Communication and Support Measures in Support of Vulnerable Groups. The main aim of this project is to promote further training amongst employees both on local and international level. The focus of such training areas are based on several areas such as residential care, health issues, employability, independent living skills, sexuality, positive support, management and leadership.

In this regard, employees are encouraged to find training programmes and placements of their choice, related to a specific training area to advance their knowledge on the area and act as a continuous professional development.

Sapport employees also have the opportunity to join 5-day training programmes in Dublin, Ireland through its EU-funded project called INK. The role of the employees who participate in this programme is to offer ongoing support and assistance to persons with disability participating in this project. Moreover, such opportunities allow employees to broaden their horizons and share experiences while exposing themselves to educational and vocational programmes offered in different countries.

Working at Aġenzija Sapport is more than just a job. It gives one the opportunity to be part of a winning team, being part of an organisation that is constantly growing and where staff members are its most valued resource, while emphasising job satisfaction not just through opportunities for growth but also through a rewarding experience of making a difference in someone else’s life.

Individuals interested in a career in disability with Aġenzija Sapport are encouraged to log on to the website www.sapport.gov.mt and click on the vacancies section. Regular updates are also posted on the Facebook page