CHOC CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION SOUTH AFRICA
AREA: CHOC WESTERN CAPE AND NAMAQUA REGION
POSITION: SOCIAL WORKER. Full day post serving the Paediatric Haematology/Oncology Unit at Tygerberg Hospital (POU)
DIRECT LINE MANAGER: CHOC Psychosocial Support Services Manager (PSSM)
DOTTED LINE MANAGER: CHOC Regional Manager (RM)
SUPERVISOR: CHOC Chief Social Worker (CSW)
START DATE: As soon as possible
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 haematology/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:
Counselling:
• 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.Assessments:
• Undertake accurate and comprehensive psychosocial assessments of families and plan intervention accordingly.
• Assess, consult, and refer any cases that require statutory intervention as per 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.
Additional 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 three years’ experience as a qualified social worker in the child/youth and/or health sector with experience in working within an interdisciplinary team.
Language Proficiency: Proficiency is required in written and spoken English and Afrikaans as well as spoken IsiXhosa.
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.
Other: A valid unendorsed South African driver’s licence.
Salary in the range of R228 000 – R246 000 per annum CHOC contributes towards a pension fund and medical aid after a successful probationary period.
To apply submit your CV with a cover letter and the names and contact details of at least three recent referees as well as the following documentation to reach [email protected]
• 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
• Certified copy of your 2023 SACSSP registration card
If you have not received a response by 9th of November 2023 consider your application unsuccessful.
