Professional Nurse Grade 1 to 3 (General Nursing) (Permanent position)

This position is for a Professional Nurse Grade 1 to 3 in General Nursing, based at the Franshoek Groendal Community Day Centre in the Stellenbosch sub-district of the Cape Winelands District, under the Western Cape Department of Health. It is a permanent nursing post, graded on the applicable Occupation Specific Dispensation scale, and the successful candidate will be expected to render comprehensive primary healthcare services in accordance with Western Cape guidelines and protocols. The facility is part of an integrated Ecosystem Service platform, meaning that although the post is anchored at this centre, the appointed nurse may be required to rotate across other institutional facilities within the wider ecosystem to support continuity and availability of care.

Applicants must meet the required educational qualification for professional nurse registration, specifically a basic R425 diploma or degree in nursing, or an equivalent qualification such as R683 plus R254, alternatively a four-year bachelor of nursing degree under R174, or a comparable combination such as R683 plus R1497 or R171 plus R1497, all of which must allow for registration with the South African Nursing Council as a professional nurse. Proof of current SANC registration is mandatory. For consideration at Grade 1, no prior nursing experience is required beyond registration. For Grade 2, at least ten years of appropriate or recognisable professional nursing experience in general nursing after SANC registration is needed. For Grade 3, the requirement rises to a minimum of twenty years of such experience. A valid code B/EB driver's licence is an inherent requirement of this role, as driving may be necessary to move between facilities or for community outreach. Key competencies include strong written and verbal communication, knowledge of public sector nursing legislation and policy, basic computer literacy in MS Word, Excel and Outlook for capturing patient information, checking results, tracking referrals and managing electronic systems, and the ability to promote quality care through implementing protocols, guidelines and standards.

Duties comprise the provision of primary healthcare services, maintaining accurate clinical records, statistics registers and referral logs, making effective use of stock and resources within realistic budget constraints, joining community events and initiating health awareness activities, participating actively in inter-professional and multidisciplinary teamwork, and at the same time being capable of independent work. The professional nurse will also supervise and mentor lower-category staff, improve the quality of health services, and take responsibility for continuous professional growth, ethical practice, and self-development.

Potential applicants are reminded that a practical test may form part of the selection process. No payment of any kind is required when applying. Candidates who do not yet hold the stipulated registration may nevertheless apply, but they will be considered only if they submit proof of application form for registration with the relevant council and proof of payment of the prescribed fees no later than the day of the interview, and this concession applies exclusively to health professionals who are applying for registration for the first time in a specific category, including those required to apply for a change in registration status. This note about registration applies to all applicants. In all other respects, successful candidates on appointment will be expected to render clinical services across institutions in the ecosystem as needed to sustain service delivery, and to utilise their driver's licence to travel should the post require it.

The expected remuneration is an annual package that includes the basic salary as well as service benefits such as a 13th cheque, employer's contribution to a pension fund, and housing and medical aid allowances, with the exact figure depending on the grade at which the appointment is made. The successful candidate has to be prepared for the practical test and the multi-disciplinary environment of community healthcare in a rural town settingThis position is a Professional Nurse Grade 1 to 3 in General Nursing, based at the Franshoek Community Health Care Centre within the Stellenbosch Sub-district of the Cape Winelands District, under the Western Cape Department of Health. It is a permanent appointment within the public health service, graded on the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD), and the post forms part of a broader institutional ecosystem. This means that although the base location is this particular facility, the selected candidate will be expected to render clinical services across other facilities in the broader ecosystem as and when required to ensure continuity and sustainability of health service delivery.

The role requires a professional nurse who is able to provide comprehensive primary health care in line with Western Cape guidelines and protocols. This is not a purely clinical role; it also entails record development, data capturing on electronic systems, stock and resource management, community engagement, supervision of lower-category staff, and a commitment to quality improvement across the facility. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate the ability to work both independently and as part of an inter-professional, multi-disciplinary team, and will be expected to participate in community events and initiatives that create awareness of health-related issues.

Applicants must hold a basic R425 qualification, which can be a diploma or degree in nursing, or any equivalent qualification such as R683 plus a R254, which permits registration with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) as a Professional Nurse. Alternatively, a four-year Bachelor Degree in Nursing under R174, or its equivalent sequence of qualifications including R683 plus R1497 or R171 plus R1497, will also be accepted. Registration with the SANC as a Professional Nurse, with proof of current registration, is mandatory. For entry to Grade 1, no previous experience is required. For Grade 2, a minimum of ten years of apropriate and recognisable nursing experience in general nursing after SANC registration is required. For Grade 3, the required experience is at least twenty years after SANC registration, also in general nursing and General Nursing. A valid driver's license (code B) is an inherent requirement, as the role may involve travel between facilities or for community outreach visits.

Alongside the educational and experience requirements, the successful candidate must be competent in verbal and written communication, possess insight into legislation and policies pertaining to nursing in the public sector, and in MS Word, Excel and Outlook electronic systems for capturing patient information, checking results, capturing data and tracking referrals. They must also be able to promote quality patient care through implementation of protocols, guidelines and standards. The main duties include the provision of Primary Health Care in accordance with the Western Cape guidelines, maintaining accurate clinical records and statistics registers, effective utilisation of available resources and stock within limited budgets, participation in community health awareness initiatives, and the supervision and mentoring of lower categories of staff. There is also an ongoing obligation to maintain professional and ethical standards, and to ensure self-development throughout the employment period.

Applicants should take note of important conditions attached to this vacancy. There is no payment required when applying; a practical test may form part of the selection process. Candidates who do not yet possess the stipulation registration requirements are welcome to apply, but will only be considered on the condition that they submit proof of registration application to the relevant council, together with proof of the prescribed fees payment, on or before the interview date. This exemption applies only to health professionals who are applying for registration for the first time in a specific category, including those who must apply for a change in registration status. Should the appointment be made, the incumbent will also receive annual salary plus service benefits that include a thirteenth cheque, employer contribution to the pension fund, and housing and medical allowance. The final salary will be determined based on the grade at which the candidate is appointed, consistent with experience and qualifications.