Development Specialist (Part-Time)

Villa Anna Teresa Holdings Limited in Malta is currently looking to recruit a Development Specialist to join their team on a part-time basis.

Job Description
The Development Specialist will work with the client and his/her family in order to support the client’s educational and/or therapeutic development with the aim of enabling them to develop and/or maintain their independence while ensuring that they feel well-adapted within the community they live in.  They work with clients who identify with having challenges in their daily living experience, including developmental delay, intellectual and other disabilities, cognitive, neurological or other issues such as Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease and other conditions or disorders.

The Developmental specialist will be highly trained in various approaches, with an ability to adapt evidence-based therapeutic and interventional media which are best suited to the individual client.  The academic background of our Development Specialists may vary from Special Education, Occupational Therapy, Psychology or any of the Allied Health professions. During the assessment, we will be able to decide the best-suited background that will serve the needs of the client concerned.

The goals will be set jointly with the client and his/her informal carers, and can be as diverse and unique as the client him/herself!
The Development Specialist will observe and discuss with the client and his/her informal carers in order to create a specialised and individualised care plan that will cater for the goals that they identify together.

Some examples of intervention possibilities include:

• Educational support with homework and academic studies
• Support with developing independent living skills (including grooming, day planning, meal preparation, shopping, using public transport, making friends, joining community-based leisure groups, socialising etc.)
• Activities aimed at supporting and developing specific goals, such as physical movement, health and wellbeing, cognitive function, communication, leisure and socialisation goals etc.  Activities can include dance, music, singing, arts and crafts, going for walks, cooking, baking etc. 
• Any further assessments which are deemed necessary for the purpose of clearer goals and objectives
• Providing support and guidance to parents/ informal carers, laying out strategies for safe and effective handling of issues such as behaviours of concern, adapted communication or memory skills etc.
• Providing advice and suggestions for any environmental or daily pattern modifications which will help the client feel more comfortable and able to function independently
•  Any other activity that will be agreed upon jointly by the Specialist and client and his/her carers.

Villa Anna Teresa Holdings Limited:
We at Villa Anna Teresa are committed to being a leading provider of long-term care services. Our staff is trained to provide quality care and support for older persons by defining and transforming care culture practices and standards into relationship-activated care and person-centred outcomes. Our plans are developed and planned to promote social relations and inspire independent living. Our goal is to create a homely environment to ensure that our residents live at their highest level of comfort, enjoyment, and well-being.

It is our objective to create a relationship-driven environment wherein those we serve may live with dignity and in a manner respectful of their way of life, and to create an atmosphere which encourages healthy social interaction with full recognition of the person’s right to privacy and self-determination; to promote relationships of trust, confidence, and loyalty through the quality of our services, the honesty of our people, and involvement in our community; We nurture a healthy work environment for our employees which maintains ethical and safe work-practices, excellence in service delivery, and personal and professional growth.