OFO No: 263507

Other names for Social Worker:

• Adoptions Worker
• Clinical Social Worker
• Forensic Social Worker
• Health Care Social Worker
• Occupational Social WorkerReintegration Worker
• School Social Worker

Important!

‘Social work is not just a career, it’s a calling! Students who REALLY want to follow this profession must be very passionate about helping disadvantaged SA communities with all their problems regardless where they are, especially in rural communities’ – Moqueloa Mothopeng, Project Manager: Scholarship Programme: National Department of Social Development.

What is a Social Worker?

A Social Worker helps individuals, families or communities to overcome challenges.

These challenges could be:

• Addiction – (drugs, alcohol, gambling, sex etc)
• Abuse – (physical or emotional)
• Disabilities
• Old Age
  
• Poverty
• Education
• Health
• Safety etc

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – Family and School Social Worker Career Overview

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – Health Social Work Career Overview

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker Careers Overview

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What does a Social Worker do?

• meets with clients, families, groups or communities to discuss problems
• interviews and collects information
• analyses this information
• designs programmes to help them reach their goals
• monitors success of programmes
• organises life skill workshops or substance abuse programmes
• keeps in contact with healthcare professionals, teachers, community leaders etc
• provides crisis intervention
• sources emergency shelter when required
• keeps in contact with the law and order officials
• keeps detailed records
  

Are you . . . ?

• caring?
• dedicated?
• passionate about helping people, no matter what?
• a hard worker?
• emotionally stable?
• a person with a positive attitude?
• a motivator?
• understanding?
• a good communicator?
• a good listener?

How do I become a Social Worker?

You will need a 4 year Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. This degree has both theoretical and practical elements. The practical will take place in the field.

This qualification can be done at most universities of SA.

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

• SOUTH AFRICAN COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS (SACSSP)

Once qualified, you will then approach the South African Council for Social Service Professionals (SACSSP) which is the regulating body that registers Social Workers.

The SACSSP encourages Social Workers to have a minimum of four or five years of field work experience before entering into private practice.

http://www.sacssp.co.za/

What Social Work areas can I specialise in?

Specialisations are usually added to your original qualification as you go along.  

263501 Social Counselling Worker

Provides socially related counselling services of a specific nature. May work in a call centre.

Alternative Titles and Specialisations:

• Bereavement Counsellor
• Genetic Counsellor
• HIV / Aids Counsellor
• Trauma Counsellor
• Women’s Welfare Organizer

263502 Addictions Counsellor 

Provides support and treatment for people with drug and alcohol dependency problems,
develops strategies which assist them to set goals and affect and maintain change, and
provides community education. 

Alternative Titles and Specialisations:

• Drug and Alcohol Counsellor
• Gambling Counsellor
• Social Detoxification Worker

263503 Marriage and Family Counsellor 

Assists individuals, couples and families with marriage and relationship difficulties.

Alternative Titles and Specialisations:

• Family Court Counsellor
• Family Mediator
• Family Therapist

263504 Rehabilitation Counsellor

Assists physically, mentally and socially disadvantaged people to re-integrate into work and
the community.

Alternative Titles and Specialisations:

• Life Coach

263505 Student Counsellor

Provides information and assistance to students, parents and teachers about a wide range
of matters such as students’ personal problems, learning difficulties and special
requirements.

Alternative Titles and Specialisations:

• School Counsellor

263506 Parole or Probation Officer

Supervises parolees who have been placed on probation by court order or released
conditionally from corrective service institutions.

Alternative Titles and Specialisations:

• Community Corrections Officer
• Probation Worker 

263508 Child and Youth Care Worker

Assesses protective, developmental and therapeutic needs of a young person, providing
information and acting as a mediator.

Alternative Titles and Specialisations:

• Child and Youth Counsellor

263509 Parole Board Member

Evaluates behaviour and formulates an opinion on whether an offender should be released
from prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence as
prescribed by the sentencing judge.

263510 Employee Wellness Practitioner

Assesses physical and/or mental health and well-being of employees e.g. Employee fitness
programs, smoking cessation, nutrition and weight loss counselling, alcohol and drug
dependency counselling.

Alternative Titles and Specialisations:

• Employee Assistance Practitioner

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Addictions Counsellor … or … Foundation Phase School Teacher

Is becoming a Social Worker the right career choice for me?

OFO No:

What is a Day Care Centre?

A day care centre usually operates during the week and is a place where parents can leave their small children while they are at work. 

Sometimes the day care centre will open after school and during school holidays as well.

The day care centre is responsible for the care and safety of the children during this time.

What is a Day Care Manager?

A Day Care Centre Manager is responsible for co-ordinating all aspects of running a Day Care Centre. 

What does a Day Care Manager do?

• makes sure the day care centre is legal by registering the business with local authorities
• makes sure the children are safe at all times
• is calm through emergences (for example: child breaks an arm)
• makes sure the staff are doing their jobs well
• manages the budgets, salaries and expenses
• makes sure the building and all equipment, toys etc are clean and safe
• keeps the parents informed about their children
• contacts parents if there is an emergency

What does a Day Care Staff Member do?

• entertains the children (singing, dancing, games, puzzles etc)
• helps the children at meal times
• makes sure the children are safe
• assists with first aid if child gets injured
• makes sure the children are dressed appropriately for hot and cold weather
• changes nappies or assisting with toilet duties
• cleans up after the children
• teaches the children skills
• teaches the children manners and discipline

Are you … ?

• a caring person?
• good with children?
• patient?
• funny and entertaining?
• young at heart?
• willing to play games with toddlers?
• capable of handling groups of children?

How do I become a Day Care Manager?

A background in teaching would be extremely advantageous but not necessary, for example if you trained as a Early Childhood Development Practitioner or Pre-Primary School Teacher, this may give your day care centre a very good name. 

Parents are always looking for the best for their children.  If you can offer more than the next day care centre – you may be very successful.

There are many courses in Child Day Care which can be done at various colleges around South Africa.  Check with your local institution whether they do.

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

• BOLAND COLLEGE

Offers a 3 year National Diploma in Educare which covers many subjects that would prepare you for work in a day care centre.  It also covers Small Business Management & Entrepreneurship which would be beneficial to those thinking of opening their own day care centre.

To actually run a day care centre as a business, courses or a background in business would be extremely advantageous.  

See under Office Manager for some ideas too.

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: B&B Manager/Owner … or … Foundation Phase School Teacher  

Is becoming a Day Care Centre Manager or Owner the right career choice for me? 

OFO No: 263508

Other names for Child & Youth Care Worker:

• Child and Youth Counsellor

What is a Child & Youth Care Worker?

A Child & Youth Care Worker’s main job is the protection of young people. Child and Youth Care Workers counsel young children and teenagers who have been subjected to neglect and various forms of abuse (emotional, physical, sexual) and have/or come from dysfunctional families.

They also provide developmental and therapeutic programmes to assist young people in need.

In certain situations, they may also be brought in as a mediator.

What does a Child & Youth Care Worker do?

• meets with young client and families to discuss problems
• interviews and collects information
• analyses this information
• designs programmes to help them reach their goals
• monitors success of programmes
• organises life skill workshops
• keeps in contact with healthcare professionals, teachers, community leaders etc
• provides crisis intervention if required
• provides records for courts / legal proceedings
• sources emergency shelter when required
• keeps in contact with the law and order officials

Are you . . . ?

• passionate about working with children?
• caring?
• dedicated?
• a hard worker?
• emotionally stable?
• a person with a positive attitude?
• a motivator?
• understanding?
• a good communicator?
• a good listener?

How do I become a Child & Youth Care Worker?

You will need a qualification. There are a number of ways to approach this.

PATH 1:

• Study to become a Social Worker
• Collect workplace experience in the field of Child & Youth Care

PATH 2:

• Study to become a Social Worker
• Postgraduate certificate in Social Work

PATH 3:

• Bachelor’s degree with a major in Child & Youth Care
• Collect workplace experience in the field of Child & Youth Care
• Postgraduate qualification in Child & Youth Care Work

1. Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
2. University of Venda

PATH 4:

• Diploma in Child & Youth Wor
• Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degree in Child & Youth Work

1. Durban University of Technology (DUT)
2. University of the Western Cape (UWC)
3. University of SA (UNISA)

PATH 5:

• Qualify in various professions like:

1. Psychology
2. Sociology
3. Education
4. Criminolgy etc

• Followed by a postgraduate qualification in Child & Youth Work

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Social Worker or Nanny / Childminder

Is becoming a Child & Youth Care Worker the right career choice for me?

OFO No: 531102

Other names for Family Day Care Worker:

• Family Day Carer

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – Child Care Career

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is a Family Day Care Worker?

A Family Day Care Worker works in a day care centre or at home. They provide care and supervision for babies and children while the parents are at work.

What does a Family Day Care Worker do?

• washes, dresses and feeds children
• takes children to and from school
• plays games with children
• reads to children
• helps children with their social development
• teaches children manners and good behaviour
• disciplines children
• teaches children to pack away toys etc
• monitors children all the time
• makes sure children are safe at all times
• helps children who sustain an injury (put a plaster on it)
• gives children medicine when required
• phones parents in an emergency
• keeps records

Are you . . . ?

• passionate about working with children?
• patient and kind?
• enthusiastic and positive?
• a person with a good sense of humour?
• energetic?
• organised?
• extremely reliable and responsible?
• observant?
• calm is a crisis?

How do I become a Family Day Care Worker?

PATH 1:

• You do not need a qualification but a bucket load of passion and kindness to do this job. You could start off as an assistant or helper in a crèche or day care centre and work yourself all the way to the top and open your own day care centre one day!

PATH 2:

• Study to become a Child Care Worker

PATH 3:

• Study a Home-Care Practices Certificate

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Social Worker or Child & Youth Care Worker

Is becoming a Family Day Care Worker the right career choice for me?

OFO No: 531103

Other names for Nanny/Childminder:

• Au Pair
• Governess
• Baby Sitter

What is a Nanny / Childminder?

A Nanny/Childminder is a person who takes care of one or more children for a family.  They may prepare the children’s meals, do grocery shopping for the children, accompany children during meal times and sometimes need to clean up after their meals.  Some Nannies might even do a few chores around the house.

What does a Nanny/Childminder do? (for baby)

• changes nappies
• washes and irons baby clothes
• packs clothes away neatly
• washes and sterilises baby bottles
• gives baby medicine when required

What does a Nanny/Childminder do? (for children)

• baths and dresses children
• makes sure children clean their teeth and brush their hair
• makes the children’s food
• tidies and cleans child’s bedroom/s
• washes and irons children’s clothes and packs them away
• cleans up afterwards
• plays games
• cleans and packs away toys
• teaches children skills and manners
• plans birthday parties
• goes on vacation with family to look after the children
• takes care of sick children
• makes sure children are safe at all times

Are you . . . ?

• a person who loves children?
• healthy?
• caring?
• gentle?
• understanding?
• playful?
• helpful?
• hygienic?
• a person with a good sense of humour?

How do I become a Nanny or Childminder?

Although some parents don’t mind if you have training or not, parents these days are expecting their nanny to be good at what she does. The more skills you have, the easier it will be to get a job.  You will also feel more confident with some of these skills.

Some ideas for skills are:  Driver’s License, First Aid, Basic Child Education, Cooking, Hygiene etc

A lot of colleges and schools offer short 1-3 day courses as well as part-time courses for these subjects. This means you can work and study at the same time. In some cases, your employer might even offer to pay for your studies.

Here are a few examples of places you can study at:

• PULSE POINT:  (Delarey (Florida), Johannesburg)

• SA NANNY:  (Johannesburg)

• EDU-CARE:  First Aid and Childcare Courses

(PE, Pretoria East, Edenvale, Constantia, Durbanville, Somerset West, Blouberg and Pietermaritzberg)

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Early Childhood Development Practitioner or Day Care Centre Manager or Owner

Is becoming a Nanny or Childminder the right career choice for me?