Medical Officer Grade 1 -3

Requirements

• Appropriate qualification that allows registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as Medical Practitioner.
• Registration with a professional council:
• Registration with the HPCSA as Medical Practitioner.
• Experience:
• Grade 1:
• None after registration as Medical Practitioner with HPCSA in respect to SA qualified employees.
• 1-year relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
• Grade 2:
• A minimum of 5 years’ appropriate experience as Medical Practitioner after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner in respect of SA qualified employees.
• A minimum of 6 years’ relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
• Grade 3:
• A minimum of 10 years’ appropriate experience as a Medical Practitioner after registration with the HPCSA as a Medical Practitioner in respect of SA qualified employees.
• A minimum of 11 years’ relevant experience after registration as Medical Practitioner with a recognised foreign Health Professional Council in respect of foreign qualified employees, of whom it is not required to perform Community Service as required in South Africa.
• Ability to work independently to autopsies and crime scene investigation.
• Good practical knowledge of forensic pathology (theory and practice).
• Knowledge of the relevant legislations.
• The incumbent to the post is expected to participate in weekend and after-hours work.
• The incumbent may be required to undergo further training in the medico—legal investigation of un-natural death.
• Knowledge of applicable parts Of Occupational Health Act and Risk assessment process.
• Knowledge, Skills, Training and competencies:
• Ability to perform medico-legal post-mortem examinations and crime scene investigations.
• Ability to work in multi- disciplinary team setting.
• A certificate of competence as a forensic medical Officer or work experience in forensic pathology.
• Excellent communication skills, including computer literacy.
• Basic knowledge of forensic photography.
• Ability to make well-founded decisions and conclusions.
• Resilience and ability to work with fragmented and decomposed remains.
• Ability to make a positive contribution in a busy department.
• The incumbent is expected to partake in all the department's academic and training activities.
• Provision Of a Forensic Pathology Service at a district level as delegated.
• Produce reports of high quality.
• Satisfactory level of professional Court attendance.
• Maintain satisfactory clinical, professional and ethical standards related to Forensic Pathology Services.
• Attend to administrative matters as required.

Duties

• To perform medico-legal post-mortem examinations, complete all related investigations and documentation, and finalise post-mortem reports within a 12-week turnaround period.
• Compile and complete post-mortem reports and all related medico-legal documentation accurately and timeously.
• Provide conclusion of causes of death based on ancillary investigation reports, as well as efficient expert evidence in court related to all autopsied above cases, including formulating forensic second opinions as requested by the Department of Justice.
• Attendance of and examination of incident cases.
• Support to the Heads:
• Clinical Unit and Department, Medical Specialists and Safe Practices.
• Personal development and academic contributions:
• Assist with teaching and training of medical and forensic students, forensic pathology officers in medico-legal autopsies and related investigations.

How to apply

New to the Z83 form? Read the application guide.

Enquiries

Notes from the department

• Applications must be submitted on a duly new Z83 Form (effective from 01 January 2021), a comprehensive CV, indicating three reference persons:
• Name and Contact Numbers, A relationship with reference.
• Applicants are only required to submit a Z83 form and a comprehensive CV.
• Therefore, only shortlisted candidates for a post will be required to submit certified documents (copies of Qualification(s) inclusive of Matric certificate, Identity document, Proof of registration, proof of citizenship if not RSA citizen) on or before the day of the interview following communication from HR.
• All shortlisted candidates, including the SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments.
• One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment.
• Applicants must note that further Personnel Suitability checks will be conducted on short-listed candidates and that their appointment is subject to the outcome of these checks which include security clearance, security vetting, qualification verification and criminal record checks.
• Reference checks will be done on nominated candidate(s).
• The department reserves the right to amend/ review/ withdraw the advertised posts if by so doing, the best interest of the department will be well served.
• (Females and People with Disabilities are also requested to apply and indicate such in their applications).
• Misrepresentation in the application documents will result in automatic disqualification and disciplinary action in the event the candidate has already been appointed.
• If you have not been contacted by the Department of Health within three (3) months of the closing date of the advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
• We thank all applicants for their interest.
• People with disabilities are encouraged to apply for these posts.