Assistant Director: Psychological Services (post level 7) - (1072) at University of the Free State

Duties and responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Management

• Assist the Director: SCD in managing and monitoring administrative tasks and day-to-day professional processes at departmental and institutional levels.
• Enhance the UFS multi-campus management strategy.
• Responsible for policy development, review, and implementation.
• Participate in the strategic planning processes of the Division of Student Affairs.
• Responsible for Institutional collaborations and consultations and institutional and inter-departmental committees’ participation.
• Act according to the ethical guidelines set out by the HPCSA.
• Manage the UFS SADAG Careline.
• Develop training workshops for departmental personnel and interns.
• Liaise with university departments, management, and other healthcare professionals.
• Assist the Director: SCD with team building and maintenance of internal personnel wellness.
• Market Student Counselling & Development services.
• Responsible for continuous Professional Development and Training.
• Responsible for external relations.
• Write reports.

Financial Management

• Cooperate with the continuation of efforts to optimise the third-stream income of SCD.
• Assist with the management of the SCD budget.

Projects, Supervision and Research 

• Train and provide supervision of student counsellors, counselling psychology interns and student psychometrists (as applicable). 
• Assist with compiling the annual internship programme for SCD. 
• Manage workshops and update coordinator content and presentations. 
• Monitor published products and marketing material: Article writing, graphic designing and branding approval. 
• Perform ad hoc duties: Appeals committee, Social Support Services Forum, as determined in consultation with Director. 
• Assist with statistics in terms of SCD service delivery and highlighting trends. 

Psychological Interventions 

• Provide Individual/Group Counselling. 
• Provide Career Counselling (Testing, intake- and feedback sessions). 
• Arrange workshops. 
• Act as Programme leader for a programme at SCD. 
• Present or attend psychology-related training. 
• Attend to all administrative matters with regard to Psychological Interventions: Process notes, Therapy stats keeping, Report writing, responding to emails/calls, Personnel meetings, prepare for clients/research, Closing off files etc. 

Inherent requirements:

• A master’s degree or relevant qualification on NQF Level 9 in Counselling Psychology.
• A minimum of four (4) years of relevant working experience relating to the duties and responsibilities.
• Registration as a Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) for at least five years (attach proof).
• Proven experience providing psychotherapeutic services to young adults, including trauma-based therapeutic service delivery. 
• Proven experience in crisis management.
• Proven experience in providing supervision to Counselling Psychology Interns.
• Proven experience in developing workshops or programmes for young adults.

Recommendations:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to function with ease in the university’s richly diverse working environment.
• Competence in an additional African language.

Competencies
Required competencies: 
Results oriented.

• The ability to cope with a frequently changing environment and to adapt to evolving situations.  
• The ability to stick with tasks, not give up, and overcome obstacles in completing one’s task.
• The ability to be reliable, responsible, dependable and to fulfil obligations.
• The ability to deal calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

Strategic thinking.

• The ability to deal with several activities at a time.
• The ability to focus on details, work towards perfection, and approach work in a neat and organised manner.
• The ability to be creative and open-minded when addressing work issues.  

Business Acumen:

• The ability to adhere to rules and strictly follow work regulations.
• Proficient in using MS Office.

Leading.

• The ability to maintain high levels of personal motivation, energy and enthusiasm.
• The ability to lead, take charge of situations, and offer opinions and directions to others.
• The ability to be cooperative with others, display a good-natured attitude and encourage people to work together.

Building coalitions

• The ability to be sensitive and understanding to the needs and feelings of others.  
• The ability to interact with others and establish personal connections with people.

Closing Date

20/8/2023