Administrative Assistant III: Case Worker (P11) (Academic Development & Support: Centre for Psychological Services & Career Development) (Re-advert) at University of Johannesburg

Job description

Responsibilities:  

Accessibility Services:

• Facilitating the registration of students with disabilities with the PsyCaD Disability Unit across all campuses in accordance with the Policy for Persons with Disabilities.
• Rendering disability support to students with disabilities (online, in-person, individual and/or group format).
• Development or revision of protocols for the Disability Unit services to students with disabilities.
• Overseeing assistive device and software acquisition and distribution.
• Completing administration and maintenance of the Disability Unit assistive devices and software across all four campuses.
• Overseeing the usage of equipment by students with disabilities to prevent misuse.
• Providing training in assistive technology.
• Facilitating bursary administrative issues – NSFAS and other funders.
• Communicating with publishers to obtain copyright and electronic books if they are readily available.
• Mobility and Orientation

Concession Support:

• Coordinating the process of providing appropriate accommodations to students with disabilities.
• Reviewing concession applications of students with disabilities.
• Contribution to concession panel discussions.
• Moderation of completed concession documents prior to distribution to students.
• Annual revision and improvement of concession processes and documentation.
• Liaison and service delivery.
• Liaising with various divisions across the university and coordinating professional service delivery.
• Psycho-educative topic identification.
• Inter- and intra-faculty referrals and service delivery to create an inclusive and supportive environment for students with disabilities.
• Maintaining clear communication channels with students and stakeholders.

Disability Awareness and Psychoeducation:

• Development and presentation of pro-active workshops to students with disabilities.
• Create disability awareness and promote sensitivity and etiquette towards students with disabilities.
• Facilitate sessions for student leadership and Disability Unit Ambassadors on disability related topics.
• Liaison with donors/sponsors for disability awareness projects.
• Coordinate designated projects on the wellness calendar.
• Marketing of the PsyCaD Disability Unit services and activities.
• Create and curate content for social media platforms that promote inclusion.
• Conduct webinars and other virtual events to engage with students and external stakeholders.
• Inter- and intra-Faculty referrals and service delivery.
• Participate in UJ events such as Open Day and orientation.

Crisis Intervention:

• Contain a student with a disability presenting with a crisis to the PsyCaD during office hours and make referrals, where necessary, to the relevant service providers and stakeholders.

Accessible Assessment Coordination and Facilitation:

• Coordinate assessment logistics such as booking of readers, scribes & invigilators.
• Facilitate of accessible formal assessments for students with disabilities at the Disability Unit.
• Coordinating the process of accessible formal assessments for students with disabilities and liaising with faculties.

Professional Administration: 

• Perform daily routine administrative tasks such as diary management, professional statistics record keeping, process notes, report writing, referral letters, e-mail responses, telephonic enquiries, and general enquiries.
• Adherence to legislation and UJ policies.
  Attend applicable workshops, lectures, activities as it pertains to administrative assistants and PsyCaD.  
• Professional reports and documentation as required within PsyCaD and ADS.

Community Engagement (CE), Research and Liaison:

• Research projects as identified or required by trend developments and statistical analysis of departmental functions.
• Participation in CE projects and initiatives.

Minimum requirements

• Diploma (NQF Level 6) qualification in Psychology or Social Work
• One (1) year experience in supporting students with disabilities.
• One (1) year experience in working with concession support.
• One (1) year experience in the use of online/cloud platforms.

Key Functional/Technical Competencies:

• Computer literacy and proficiency in MS Office/365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and One Drive) and other relevant software.
• Proficiency in the use of social media and online/cloud platforms.
• Knowledge of how to assist students with various disabilities with relevant assistive technology.
• Knowledge of various organisations for persons with disabilities.
• Knowledge of structure and content of the appropriate language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
• Knowledge in development and coordination of training interventions for young adults or students. 

Key Behavioural Attributes:

• Good problem-solving skills and ability to use independent judgment to manage and impart confidential information.
• Ability to make professional decisions and work with others.
• Good training and development skills.
• Able to critically reflect on all aspects of own contribution to the role and a commitment to continuous improvement and creative ways of working within a multidisciplinary team.
• Good administration and reporting skills, including report writing.
• Ability to work within strict ethical guidelines.
• Availability to work flexibly (after hours and across all sites) and travel as appropriate to meet the needs of UJ.
• Ability to work within strict ethical guidelines as prescribed by relevant legislature and organisational policies and procedures.
• Ability to handle students with diplomacy, tact, and sensitivity.

Recommendations: 

• Degree or relevant (NQF Level 7) qualification in Psychology or Social Work
• Experience working within a Disability Unit
• Proficiency in South African Sign Language.
• Training in scribing, reading and/or invigilation for written assessments.
• Experience working within a higher education institution and/or counselling environment.
• Experience in marketing administration for psychosocial projects.
• Experience in social media content management.
• Experience in workshop administration.