Social Work Policy Manager at Western Cape Education Department (WCED)

REQUIREMENTS :

• National Senior Certificate (or equivalent) and a Three-year relevant qualification. Registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions as Social Worker.
• A minimum of 10 years appropriate experience in social work after registration as Social Worker with the SACSSP of which 5 years must be appropriate experience in social work policy development. Project Management skills. Planning and organizing. Networking skills. 

DUTIES :

• Develop or facilitate the development of policies for rending a social work service in departments. Monitor, interpret and review legislation, policies and procedures to determine whether the legislation, policies and procedures are still relevant and comply with current requirements. Develop proposals to amend or maintain the relevant acts, policies and procedures and develop new policies or procedures where required. This includes costing the relevant policies. Develop programs to implement the relevant policies. Manage a social work policy unit to ensure that the required legislating policies and procedures are developed through the efficient and effective utilisation of human resources. This would, inter alia, include the following. General consultation with stakeholders and advising subordinates regarding social work policy to be taken. Management of a social policy unit. This would, inter alia, entail the following. Ensure that the necessary personnel are recruited and retained within the budgetary constraints. Ensure sound employment relations. Quality control of the work delivered by subordinates. Advising subordinates with regard to all aspects of the work. Manage the performance and conduct of subordinates and the social work policy unit.
• Ensure that subordinates are trained and developed to be able to deliver work of the required standard. This would include providing mentorship and guidance to subordinates to assist them to integrate theory and practice, and to develop appropriated skills. Establish, implement and maintain efficient and effective communication arrangements in the unit. Ensure that subordinates maintain their professional registration as required. The development and management of the business plan of the unit and reporting on progress as required. Keep up to date with new developments in the social work and management fields. This would, inter alia, entail the following. Study professional journals and publications to ensure that cognisance is taken of new developments. Monitor and study the social services legal and policy framework continuously.
• Liaise or attend meetings with other departments and non government institutions to take cognisance of the latest developments in the relevant field and to provide inputs, where required, into the work of such departments and other organisations. Engage in continuous professional development activities as prescribed. Monitor and study the human resource, financial and general management frameworks of the Public Service to stay abreast of the latest developments. Plan and ensure that social work policy research and development are undertaken. Undertake complex social work research. Perform and or ensure that all the administrative functions required in the unit are performed.