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

This is a three-year contract position for a social worker or social auxiliary worker within the Early Childhood Development directorate of the Western Cape Education Department, based in Cape Town. The role is graded according to the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) and is focused on providing administrative and compliance support to the ECD sector. The successful candidate will work across the registration, infrastructure support, and ECD subsidy business processes, ensuring that early childhood development programmes meet the required standards and are able to access public funding.

Applicants must hold an appropriate certificate or bachelor's degree in social auxiliary work or social work, and must be registered with the South African Council for Social Service Profession as either a social worker or social auxiliary worker. At least two years of relevant experience in social work or social auxiliary work is required. The role also demands a sound understanding of early childhood development, including the policies and legislation regulating ECD, age-appropriate stimulation, and play-based learning. Familiarity with ECD registration requirements and the ECD subsidy process is essential, as is strong administrative and compliance capability. The ability to keep accurate records, monitor attendance, incidents, and progress within ECD programmes, and apply registration requirements consistently is critical. The post requires someone who can mobilise community resources and work collaboratively with NGOs, clinics, schools, and other government departments. A clear understanding of data confidentiality and the ethical handling of information is also expected.

In practice, the social worker will process, organise, and track the documentation that ECD centres submit for registration and funding. This includes uploading and managing digital records of ECD programmes on platforms approved by the Department of Basic Education. The role involves monitoring the progress of applications, flagging submissions that are incomplete or incorrect, and preparing district-level reports and data updates, including evidence that sites are ready for inspection. The incumbent will liaise with district officials, ECD centres, and field staff to coordinate follow-ups and site visits, and will help map and update information about ECD centres across the district. The post also includes accompanying provincial and district officials on physical site visits, where the social worker will support document collection, engage with practitioners, and help resolve registration and subsidy queries.

This is an OSD-graded role with a salary determined by years of experience after professional registration. The position is contractually limited to three years. It is ideally suited to a social services professional who is organised, detail-oriented, and passionate about early childhood development. The employer is the Western Cape Education Department, and candidates are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the application process set out in the official circular before applying. Queries may be directed to the contact person listed for this post.