Lecturer at University of the Western Cape/Universiteit van Wes-Kaapland

Role Clarification & Key Performance Areas

• The Department of Social Work in the CHS faculty, is committed to excellence in Community Development and Social Work Education, Practice and Research. We believe in justice, gender equity, human diversity and citizenship for all. Based on the review of the Social Service Professions Act 110 of 1978 as amended in 1998, and subsequent amendments, which transformed the social services sector, to be more inclusive of a broader range of social service practitioners (SSPs), the Department of Social Work has added the Community Development 4-year Bachelor degree to its SSP offerings in 2021. It is envisaged that learning and teaching, research and community engagement activities within the Department can contribute to the development and encouragement of interdisciplinary discourse and work between the two disciplines.
• The Department is actively seeking candidates to fill a Lecturer position in the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) programme. In line with the Global Definition of Social Work, the BSW programme places emphasis on the integration of theory and practice, as well as the promotion of social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment of people. The programme further accentuates principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and a respect for diversities as a central to social work. The Department is committed to continuously transforming the curriculum to ensure that indigenous knowledge and contextually relevant epistemologies and theoretical frameworks are included in the curriculum. The aim is to empower students to respond to real-life and real-time realities in society and academia to prepare them for practice. In line with the Institutional Operational Plan of the UWC and vision of the Faculty of Community and Health Services (CHS), learning and teaching in the Department focuses on a holistic student experience to ensure student success and retention, aimed at preparing students to acquire knowledge, skills, and graduate attributes to prepare them to respond to a changing world. Appropriately qualified and experienced lecturers are thus set as a key priority.

The successful candidate will have the following key performance areas and responsibilities:

•     Facilitate learning and teaching at undergraduate level in the Department of Social Work.
•     Undertake undergraduate supervision in research.
•     Conduct research and publish in the field of social work-related matters.
•     Undertake community engagement, and actively engage with stakeholders to contribute to support the integration of theory and practice.
•     Participate in Departmental and programme-specific administration.

Minimum Requirements

•     A Master’s degree in Social Work
•     Experience in Learning and Teaching at undergraduate level
•     Proof of publication in peer reviewed publications
•     At least five (5) years’ experience in social work practice
•     Evidence of the integration of community engagement
•     Registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP)

Added advantages

•     Experience in work placement (service learning) coordination and supervision
•     Experience in modern e-learning technologies

Required Competencies: 

•     Student support
•     Building interpersonal relationships
•     Teamwork / collaboration
•     Conceptual thinking
•     Analytical thinking / Problem solving 
•     Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication 
•     Planning and organising / work managemen