CHOC CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION SOUTH AFRICA
AREA: CHOC EAST LONDON REGION
POSITION: SOCIAL WORKER, Full day serving the pediatric hematology/Oncology Unit at Frere
Hospital.
REPORT TO: PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES MANAGER
CONTRACT TYPE: PERMANENT
START DATE: 01 APRIL2025.
MAIN PURPOSE:
- To provide counselling and psychosocial support services to children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer or life-threatening blood disorders and their families.
- To coordinate additional support services and resources offered by internal and external stakeholders to the paediatric oncology unit.
- To be responsible for the accurate management of the administrative function.
- The incumbent’s job description entails but is not limited to the following.
THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE:
Counseling:
- Facilitate the counselling of and support to the family at the time of breaking bad news.
- Provide ongoing individual and /or group counselling to the patient and family from diagnosis onward.
- Prepare the patient and/or parent/family for medical and treatment procedures.
- Provide end-of-life palliative care and support to the patient and family.
- Provide counselling and/or crisis intervention at the time of a patient’s death.
- Provide bereavement support to the families.
- Ensure appropriate discharge planning is carried out.
Private and ConfidentialAssessments:
- Undertake accurate and comprehensive psychosocial assessments of families and plan intervention
- accordingly.
- Facilitate statutory investigations as and when required under the Children’s Act no 38 of 2005.
Networking and liaison:
- Network with internal and external bodies to enhance support services to the children, teenagers, and
- their families.
- Assess, prepare, and facilitate children and teenagers for the attendance of camps.
Meetings:
- Regularly attend hand-over, ward and team meetings.
- Regularly attend and contribute to regional staff meetings.
Educational Interventions:
- Liaise with the hospital- and the patient’s home school about the implications of the treatment and eventual reintegration.
Ward Volunteers:
- Assist the region with the recruitment, selection, training, and supervision of ward volunteers.
Administration:
- Update and maintain the CHOC database regularly with psychosocial support services data.
- Complete and submit monthly reports.
- Administer and record accurately the practical support services according to CHOC policies and procedures.
Personal and Professional Growth:
- Attend regular operational consultation with the regional manager.
- Attend regular supervision.
- Attend monthly online Psychosocial Teams meetings.
- Attend twice a year in-person national Psychosocial Team staff meeting.
Fundraising and Awareness:
- Assist the region with awareness and fundraising events as and when required.
Private and ConfidentialAdditional Support Services:
- Assist with the planning and organising of the annual CHOC Remembrance Service.
- Assist with the planning and organising of the annual ward/year-end party.
THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE POST ARE:
Qualification:
A recognised BA Social Work Degree (Honours) with majors in Social Work and Psychology. Up to date proof of registration with the S.A. Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP).
Experience:
Minimum two years’ experience as a qualified social worker in the child/youth and/or health sector with experience in working within an inter-disciplinary team.
Recommendation:
Experience of working with children, teenagers and their families compromised by life threatening illnesses or other life traumas.
Skills and Attributes:
High level of professional integrity, maturity, high stress tolerance, comfortable working in the field of loss, death and dying, the ability to work independently and yet within the broader CHOC team.
Additional Training:
Computer literacy (Outlook, MS Office; Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and good administrative skills.
Language Proficiency:
Fluency in English & IsiXhosa (Written & Spoken).
Other: A valid unendorsed South African driver’s licence.
Salary in the range of R240 000 – R276 000 per annum CHOC contributes towards a pension fund and medical aid after a successful probationary period.
To apply submit your CV with the names and contact details of at least two recent referees as well as the
following documentation to reach vacancies@choc.org.za no later than 28 February 2025.
- Certified copy of your identity document
- Certified copy of your driver’s licence
- Certified copy of your degree certificate
- Certified copy of your academic record
- Certified copy of your SACSSP registration certificate
If you have not received a response by 15 March 2025, consider your application unsuccessful.