Four members of Hospice Malta’s care team have recently completed a job shadowing programme at Galway Hospice in Ireland, supported by the Erasmus+ fund. This experience forms part of Hospice Malta’s ongoing investment in staff development and its commitment to continually elevate the quality of palliative services offered within the community.

Community Nurse Alison Ellul and Psychotherapist Carly Ciantar, together with Complementary Therapist Stephanie Zahra and Social Worker Gillian Barbara, spent time observing and engaging with Galway Hospice’s multidisciplinary team. Their programme provided valuable exposure to various care settings, including inpatient, day care and community-based services, while allowing participants to gain a deeper understanding of collaborative approaches to holistic patient support.

The placements also offered participants the opportunity to exchange best practices and strengthen professional ties with international colleagues. Insights gained from these experiences will contribute to the ongoing development of Hospice Malta’s clinical and support services at St Michael Hospice in St Venera.

Chief Clinical Officer Anna Frendo explained, “Each international placement represents an important learning opportunity for our team. By observing how other hospices operate, our staff can bring back new ideas, perspectives and methods that can further strengthen our approach to patient and family care. This is part of our wider goal to ensure that Hospice Malta remains at the forefront of palliative care delivery.”

These latest placements follow other successful job shadowing initiatives carried out by members of the Hospice Malta team in recent months. More staff are expected to participate in similar Erasmus+ mobility programmes as part of the organisation’s continuous drive for professional growth and service improvement.

Hospice Malta provides palliative care services free of charge across Malta and Gozo to patients suffering from cancer, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, as well as advanced cardiac, respiratory, kidney and liver conditions.

As Hospice Malta continues to expand its services, individuals interested in joining the organisation’s multidisciplinary team are invited to visit www.hospicemalta.org to explore current vacancies and opportunities to contribute to this vital mission.