COUNSELLOR GRADE 1 TO 3 (MENTAL HEALTH) West Coast District

This position offers an opportunity to work as a Registered Counsellor within the West Coast District’s mental health services, based in the Bergriver Sub-District. The role is graded at Counsellor Level 1, 2, or 3, depending on the successful candidate’s years of relevant experience after registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. As part of the district’s mental health ecosystem, the incumbent will be expected to deliver clinical services not only at the base facility but also across other institutions within the broader service platform, ensuring continuity of care and support where needed.

The core purpose of the role is to provide preventative, developmental, and supportive counselling interventions across individual, group, and community levels. This includes performing basic psychological screening to enhance overall functioning, offering psychoeducation and mental health promotion, and working collaboratively with interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral teams. The counsellor will also be responsible for report writing, providing feedback to clients and supervisors, and attending regular clinical supervision. In addition, the post involves mentoring, supervising, and supporting lay health workers, thereby strengthening the capacity of the broader health team. The ability to work both independently and within a team is essential, as is the capacity to function effectively in a high-pressure, diverse, and multicultural environment.

Applicants must hold an appropriate qualification that allows registration with the HPCSA as a Registered Counsellor, and they must be registered with the council. For appointment at Grade 1, no post-registration experience is required. Grade 2 requires a minimum of eight years of appropriate experience as a counsellor after registration, while Grade 3 requires at least sixteen years of such experience. A valid Code B or EB driver’s licence is an inherent requirement, along with a willingness to consult clients and to attend and conduct meetings and training sessions. The ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience in counselling, psychometric assessments, and identification of mental health challenges, as well as the ability to think strategically and analytically, interpret and implement policies, and work within their professional scope of practice, referring clients for more specialised interventions when necessary. Strong communication, presentation, and computer literacy skills, including MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, are also required, as are good interpersonal skills for professional relationship building and conflict resolution.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo a competency test. There is no fee payable when applying for this post. Candidates who do not yet have the stipulated registration may still apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration and payment of the prescribed fees to the HPCSA 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 need to change their registration status. This is a valuable opportunity for qualified counsellors to contribute to public mental health services in a supportive, team-based environment.