SOCIAL WORKER: SOCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONAL: ECD: REF NO:

The Early Childhood Development directorate within the Western Cape Education Department is advertising a three-year contract position for a social work professional to provide essential administrative and compliance support to ECD services. Based in Cape Town, the role is graded under the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) system, meaning the salary is determined according to the candidate’s years of experience after registering as a social worker or social auxiliary worker. This is a district-facing post that sits at the intersection of social work practice and regulatory compliance, ensuring that early childhood development centres meet the requirements for registration, infrastructure support, and subsidy funding. The successful candidate will work closely with district officials, ECD centres, and field staff, contributing directly to the quality and accountability of early childhood services in the province.

Applicants must hold an appropriate certificate or bachelor’s degree in social auxiliary work or social work and be registered with the South African Council for Social Service Profession as a Social Worker or Social Auxiliary Worker. A minimum of two years of relevant experience in social work or social auxiliary work is required. Beyond the formal qualifications, the role demands a solid understanding of early childhood development, including the policies and legislation that govern ECD, age-appropriate stimulation, and play-based learning. Candidates must be familiar with ECD registration requirements and the subsidy process, as well as the administrative and compliance frameworks that support them. Strong skills in record keeping, documentation, and the ability to monitor attendance, incidents, and programme progress are essential. The position also requires the capacity to mobilise community resources and to collaborate with non-governmental organisations, clinics, schools, and other government departments. Given the sensitive nature of the work, knowledge of data confidentiality and the ethical handling of information is non-negotiable.

The core duties centre on providing administrative and compliance support across three business processes: registration, infrastructure support, and ECD subsidies. This includes processing, organising, and tracking centre-level documentation required for registration and funding, as well as uploading and managing digital records of ECD programmes on DBE-approved platforms. The candidate will monitor application progress, flag incomplete or incorrect submissions, and prepare district reports and data updates, including evidence for site visit readiness. Liaising with district officials, ECD centres, and field staff is a daily responsibility, particularly to coordinate follow-ups and site visits. The role also involves mapping and updating ECD centre information at district level, and accompanying provincial or district officials on site visits to support document collection, practitioner engagement, and the resolution of registration or subsidy queries. This is a hands-on administrative role that directly influences whether ECD centres receive the support and funding they need to operate effectively.

This advertised post is part of a broader public service vacancy circular, and interested applicants should pay close attention to the application instructions and deadline set out in the advertisement. The position offers a meaningful opportunity for a social work professional with a passion for early childhood development to contribute to systemic improvements in ECD service delivery. It is particularly suited to candidates who are organised, detail-oriented, and comfortable working within regulatory frameworks, while also being able to engage compassionately with ECD practitioners and communities. The three-year contract nature of the post should be considered, as should the expectation that the successful candidate will travel to ECD sites as part of their duties. Ultimately, this role is about ensuring that the administrative and compliance backbone of ECD provision is strong enough to support quality early learning environments for young children.