School Social Worker: Special Schools

Requirements

• A formal 4-year Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work.
• Current, valid registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).
• (Proof of payment for the current year is mandatory on or before the interview day).
• Previous experience in a school environment or working with children with disabilities is highly advantageous.
• A valid driver’s license.
• Deep understanding of the Children’s Act and the South African Schools Act.
• Strong interpersonal, report-writing, and crisis-management skills.

Duties

• To provide professional social work services to learners with special educational needs, their families, and the school community.
• The successful candidate will address social, emotional, and behavioural barriers to learning to facilitate the holistic development of the child within an inclusive or specialized environment.
• Psychosocial Support:
• Provide individual and group counselling to learners with diverse disabilities (physical, intellectual, or neurodivergent).
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration:
• Work as part of the School- Based Support Team (SBST) alongside psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists.
• Home-School Liaison:
• Conduct home visits and assessments to understand the learner’s social context and provide parent- guidance programs.
• Crisis Intervention:
• Manage cases of child abuse, neglect, and trauma in accordance with the Children’s Act.
• Advocacy and Placement:
• Assist with the screening, identification, and assessment (SIAS) process and facilitate referrals to external welfare organizations or medical facilities.
• Administration:
• Maintain comprehensive, confidential case files and draft statutory reports for the Department of Social Development or Children's Courts.
• Participate in inter- and intra-sectoral networks and collaborations.
• Collaborate and interact with stakeholders (e.g., Department of Health, Department of Social Development, Non-Profit Organizations, Non- Governmental Organizations, local government, and the broader Community).
• Advocate for learners who experience barriers to learning; liaising with Social Workers from other special schools and sharing best practices and experiences; liaison with relevant professional boards and tertiary institutions; participate in extra-mural and co-curricular activities.
• Management and Administration:
• Manage effective administration practices of Social Work interventions; ensure compliance with the code of Ethics of the SACSSP; practice sound interpersonal relations, engage actively in performance appraisals per requirement.

How to apply

New to the Z83 form? Read the application guide.

Enquiries

Notes from the department

• Applications must be submitted on a duly completed New Z83 form (effective from 01 January 2021), e-Recruitment System automatically generates Z83 immediately you press apply and generate Z83.
• Applicants are not required to submit copies of qualifications and other relevant documents upon application but must submit a fully completed Z83 form and detailed Curriculum Vitae.
• NB:
• Z83 in the e-recruitment system is currently not signable; so, applicants who submitted applications via the e-recruitment system will not be disqualified for an unsigned Z83 instead will be requested to sign on/or before the interview day.
• View the list of the positions you applied for on “My Job Applications” and do note that the system Z83 does not reflect work experience and qualifications, however, every detail of your information does reflect to the Recruitment team.
• Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of qualifications, and other relevant documents (like a copy of Permanent Resident Permit for Non-RSA Citizens/Permanent Resident Permit Holders to HR on or before the interview date.
• Failure to submit all the required documents will disqualify the application.
• Correspondence will be limited to short-listed candidates only.
• If you have not been contacted within six (6) months after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
• Selected candidates will be subjected to a personnel suitability check (criminal record check, citizenship verification, financial/asset record check, qualification/ study verification and previous employment verification).
• 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.
• The Selection Panel will recommend candidates to attend a generic Managerial Competency Assessment in compliance with the DPSA Directive on the implementation of Competency-based Assessment.
• Successful candidates will also be subjected to security clearance processes.
• Where applicable, candidates will be subjected to a skills/ knowledge test.
• The competency assessment will be testing generic managerial competencies using the mandated DPSA SMS competency assessment tools.
• Successful candidates will be appointed on a probation period of twelve 12/24 months.
• It is the objective to address the Employment Equity Affirmative Action Measures in line with the Employment Equity Plan and to achieve equitable representation across race and gender.
• The EE targets of the recruiting Department will be adhered to although the applications are welcome from all racial groups.
• The Recruiting 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.
• SMS pre-entry certificate (Nyukela) must be submitted prior appointment.
• Full details can be sourced by following the link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course/sms-pre-entry- programme Note:
• Due to austerity measures, the Department will not carry any related costs (transport, accommodation, and meals) for candidates attending pre-selection assessment/s and interviews.
• Due to austerity measures, the Department will not carry any related costs (transport, accommodation, and meals) for candidates attending pre-selection assessment/s and interviews.