Director: Forensic Mental Health

Requirements

• Grade 12 certificate and an appropriate NQF 7 in Mental Health Related Profession (Medicine, Psychiatric Nursing, Psychology, Occupational Therapy or Social Work) as recognised by SAQA.
• Registration with a relevant statutory council as a Mental Health Practitioner.
• Postgraduate qualification in Psychiatry or another relevant mental health specification will be an advantage.
• At least five (5) years’ experience in middle/senior managerial level in the field involved with forensic mental health.
• Demonstrable experience in forensic psychiatry/mental health including care, treatment and rehabilitation of State patients and mentally ill prisoners as outlined in the Mental Health Act No 17 of 2002.
• Evaluation/assessments relating to section 77, 78 and 79 Criminal Procedure Act No 51 of 1977 (as amended), section 11 of the child Justice Act No 75 of 2008.
• Implementation of Sexual Offences Act.
• Knowledge in health legislation and health policies, health systems as well as of Clinical Mental Health/psychiatry/psychology, forensic mental health and research.
• Good communication (verbal and written), facilitation and people management, financial management, leadership, planning and organization, problem solving, human resource management and computer skills (MS Office package).
• A valid driver’s license.
• SMS pre-entry Certificate is required for appointment finalization.

Duties

• Process, monitor and ensure compliance of the department with the legislative mandates emanating from the Mental Health Care Act, Criminal Procedure Act, Child Justice Act, and Sexual Offences Act.
• Develop legislation, policies, guidelines and programmes on forensic mental health services.
• Develop training programme for psychiatrics and clinical psychologists on the implementation of the legal mandates emanating from the Criminal Procedure and Child Justice Act.
• Ensure adequate appropriate infrastructure for forensic mental health services.
• Develop and seek approval for the proposal on a project for increasing beds for mental observations in psychiatric hospitals.
• Consult provinces on the number of beds required for mental observations in designated psychiatric hospital.
• Maintain and update information management systems on forensic mental health.
• Keep and update information management systems for State patients on movements to and from designated psychiatric hospitals.
• Facilitate intersectoral, interdepartmental and intradepartmental collaboration on issues pertaining to forensic mental health.
• Serve in the Director-General’s Child Justice Committee and the Development Committee (DevComm) of the Criminal Justice system led by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development.
• Participate in the Human Rights Commission on issues pertaining to the human rights of involuntarily detained persons.

How to apply

For attention:Ms M Shitiba

New to the Z83 form? Read the application guide.

Enquiries

Notes from the department

• All shortlisted candidates, including SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments.
• One must be a practical exercise, and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment.
• Selection panels shall score both technical exercises as an additional criterion in the interview process.
• All shortlisted candidates for SMS posts will be subjected to a technical exercise and interview.
• Following the technical exercise and interview, a maximum of three (3) candidates will undergo psychometric assessments to assess cognitive capabilities, behavioural preferences, emotional intelligence, and integrity.
• The competency assessment will be testing generic managerial competencies using the mandated DPSA SMS competency assessment batteries.
• Assessment for core competencies outlined in the SMS Handbook shall be conducted within one month of the appointment of candidate.
• Applications should be submitted on the new Z83 form obtainable from any Public Service department and should be accompanied by a CV only (previous experience must be comprehensively detailed).
• The Z83 must be fully completed (in line with DPSA Practice note), failure to comply will automatically disqualify the applicant.
• Applicants are not required to submit copies of qualification and other relevant documents on application.
• Certified copies of qualifications and other relevant documents will be requested prior to the final selection phase.
• Applications should be on one PDF format (If emailed).
• Applications received after the closing date and those that do not comply with the requirements will not be considered.
• It is the applicant’s responsibility to have foreign qualifications and national certificates (where applicable) evaluated by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA).
• Please note by responding to the advertisement, you consent to the collection, processing, and storing of your Personal Information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) Your information will be used solely for the purpose of this promotion and will not be shared with third parties without prior consent unless required by law.
• The Department reserves the right not to fill the posts.
• The successful candidate will be subjected to personnel suitability checks and other vetting procedures.
• Applicants are respectfully informed that correspondence will be limited to short-listed candidates only.
• If notification of an interview is not received within three (3) months after the closing date, candidates may regard their application as unsuccessful.
• The Department will not be liable where applicants use incorrect/no reference number(s) on their applications.