ORAL HYGIENIST GRADE 1 TO 3 Cape Winelands Health District

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is seeking qualified oral hygienists to join the Cape Winelands Health District, specifically within the Breede Valley Sub-district, as part of the Primary Health Care Support Outreach programme. This is a clinical post graded at levels 1 to 3, allowing appointment based on the candidate’s level of experience. The successful applicant will be responsible for delivering oral health services across the sub-district, including at clinics, creches and schools, and will play a key role in promoting oral health within the community. The position requires a proactive, community-oriented approach, as the work involves regular travel and engagement with a variety of patient groups, from young children to adults.

Applicants must hold an appropriate qualification that permits registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as an Oral Hygienist, and must be registered with the HPCSA. For Grade 1, no post-registration experience is required for South African qualified employees, while foreign qualified applicants need at least one year of relevant experience after registration with a recognised foreign health professional council, provided they are not required to perform community service in South Africa. Grade 2 requires a minimum of ten years’ appropriate experience for locally qualified employees, or eleven years for foreign qualified applicants. Grade 3 requires twenty years for local and twenty-one years for foreign qualified applicants. A valid Code EB driver’s licence is an inherent requirement of the job, as the role involves travelling to multiple facilities and outreach points throughout the Breede Valley Sub-district.

The core duties include organising and conducting oral health promotion campaigns throughout the sub-district, and rendering preventive and other oral health services at all identified clinics, creches and schools. The oral hygienist will also refer patients to dentists and other health care professionals as needed, and will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating preventive programmes to ensure their effectiveness. Administrative duties, quality clinical governance, professional ethics, training and support functions form part of the role. The position demands the ability to function independently as well as within a multi-disciplinary team, along with good communication, interpersonal and organisational skills, problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking. Computer literacy in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint is also required, as record-keeping and reporting are integral to the post.

Candidates who do not yet have the stipulated registration may still apply, but they will only be considered for appointment on condition that they provide proof of application for registration with the HPCSA and proof of payment of the prescribed registration fees on or before the day of the interview. This concession applies only to health professionals applying for the first time for registration in a specific category, including those who must apply for a change in registration status. It is also important to note that the advertised post is linked to the institution or facility that forms part of the Ecosystem Service platform. Upon appointment, the incumbent will be expected to render clinical services across institutions in the ecosystem as needed to sustain health service delivery. This post is advertised through a provincial circular, and interested applicants are encouraged to review the full advertisement for details on the application process and contact information for enquiries.