Department of Correctional Services invites interested and suitably qualified candidates to apply for Social Worker Grade 1 positions available at Mangaung Maximum Correctional Centre in the Free State and Northern Cape Region. The positions involve providing needs-based social work services to offenders through individual counselling, group interventions, community work programmes and social work administration in support of offender rehabilitation and reintegration objectives.

The positions are suitable for applicants who hold a BA Degree in Social Work and are registered with the South African Council for Social Service Professions, with additional requirements including computer literacy and a valid driver’s licence. Responsibilities include conducting offender assessments, monitoring intervention programmes, supporting research activities and coordinating rehabilitation services in accordance with public service policies and legislative frameworks governing correctional environments.

Position Title: Social Worker Grade 1
Reference Number: FSNC 2026/04/36
Number of Posts: 12
Salary: R325 200 per annum
Centre: Mangaung Maximum Correctional Centre (Free State and Northern Cape Region)
Employment Type: Public Service Appointment
Closing Date: 08 May 2026 at 15:45

Overview of the Social Worker Grade 1 Position

The Social Worker Grade 1 position supports delivery of professional social work services within correctional environments through structured offender rehabilitation interventions, psychosocial assessments and programme coordination aligned with correctional rehabilitation strategies. Responsibilities include providing individual counselling support, facilitating group intervention programmes and coordinating community-based reintegration support activities contributing to offender rehabilitation outcomes within correctional service delivery frameworks.

The role forms part of integrated offender support services designed to address behavioural risks, promote social reintegration readiness and strengthen rehabilitation pathways through evidence-based social work interventions. Participation in correctional social work programmes contributes to improved offender adjustment, reduction of recidivism risks and alignment with national correctional rehabilitation objectives supporting safe offender reintegration into society following incarceration periods.

Purpose of the Social Worker Grade 1 Role

Primary objectives associated with the Social Worker Grade 1 position include:

• Providing needs-based social work services to offenders
• Conducting structured individual offender assessments
• Facilitating group intervention programmes
• Supporting community-based rehabilitation initiatives
• Coordinating social work administration activities
• Supporting implementation of correctional rehabilitation strategies
• Monitoring effectiveness of intervention programmes
• Supporting offender behavioural adjustment processes
• Strengthening reintegration readiness planning activities
• Supporting research activities related to offender support programmes

The role contributes to strengthening correctional rehabilitation service delivery within secure correctional centre environments.

Offender Assessment Responsibilities

Assessment-related duties include:

• Conducting individual offender psychosocial assessments
• Identifying rehabilitation needs through structured evaluation frameworks
• Supporting development of intervention plans aligned with offender profiles
• Monitoring offender participation in rehabilitation programmes
• Supporting case management documentation processes
• Maintaining assessment record accuracy within correctional systems

Assessment responsibilities support structured rehabilitation planning within correctional service environments.

Individual Intervention Responsibilities

Individual counselling responsibilities include:

• Providing one-on-one counselling services to offenders
• Supporting behavioural change interventions
• Addressing psychosocial adjustment challenges
• Supporting emotional wellbeing within correctional environments
• Facilitating rehabilitation readiness discussions
• Supporting reintegration preparation planning activities

Individual interventions support offender rehabilitation progress monitoring.

Group Work Intervention Responsibilities

Group intervention duties include:

• Facilitating structured group rehabilitation sessions
• Supporting behavioural development programmes
• Coordinating offender participation in support groups
• Supporting peer-based rehabilitation learning environments
• Facilitating awareness sessions aligned with reintegration objectives
• Supporting participation in correctional development initiatives

Group work strengthens collective rehabilitation engagement within correctional environments.

Community Work Coordination Responsibilities

Community engagement duties include:

• Supporting offender reintegration planning activities
• Coordinating community-based intervention initiatives
• Supporting stakeholder collaboration related to offender support services
• Facilitating coordination with external social service partners
• Supporting continuity of care frameworks following release planning

Community coordination strengthens transition pathways between correctional centres and community support systems.

Social Work Administration Responsibilities

Administrative duties associated with the role include:

• Maintaining offender case files
• Recording intervention activities within rehabilitation documentation systems
• Supporting programme monitoring documentation processes
• Maintaining compliance with correctional service administrative procedures
• Supporting preparation of intervention reports
• Supporting documentation submission aligned with correctional governance requirements

Administrative coordination supports structured rehabilitation programme implementation.

Monitoring and Evaluation Responsibilities

Monitoring-related duties include:

• Evaluating effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions
• Supporting programme performance tracking frameworks
• Monitoring offender participation progress
• Supporting documentation of intervention outcomes
• Supporting improvement of programme delivery methodologies

Monitoring responsibilities strengthen evidence-based correctional rehabilitation practices.

Research Responsibilities

Research-related duties include:

• Supporting research activities related to offender rehabilitation programmes
• Collecting data supporting programme evaluation frameworks
• Contributing to development of intervention improvement strategies
• Supporting documentation of rehabilitation outcomes

Research participation strengthens continuous improvement of correctional social work services.

Marketing of Social Work Services Responsibilities

Awareness-related duties include:

• Promoting availability of social work services within correctional environments
• Supporting offender awareness of intervention programmes
• Facilitating participation in rehabilitation initiatives
• Supporting communication regarding available support structures

Marketing responsibilities strengthen offender participation in available rehabilitation programmes.

Human Resource Management Responsibilities

Human resource coordination duties include:

• Supporting supervision of allocated social work programme resources
• Supporting coordination of rehabilitation service teams
• Supporting planning of intervention schedules
• Supporting training coordination activities where required

Human resource coordination strengthens structured delivery of correctional social services.

Financial and Asset Management Responsibilities

Resource management duties include:

• Supporting monitoring of programme-related resource usage
• Supporting management of allocated operational assets
• Maintaining accountability for programme-related materials
• Supporting compliance with financial management procedures

Resource management supports sustainable implementation of rehabilitation services.

Performance Information Management Responsibilities

Performance tracking duties include:

• Maintaining programme performance records
• Supporting documentation of rehabilitation outcomes
• Supporting reporting aligned with correctional performance frameworks
• Supporting monitoring of intervention delivery effectiveness

Performance information management strengthens accountability within correctional rehabilitation systems.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must possess:

• BA Degree in Social Work

Academic qualification supports readiness for professional correctional social work responsibilities.

Professional Registration Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Registration with the South African Council for Social Service Professions

Professional registration supports compliance with statutory social work practice standards.

Computer Literacy Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Computer literacy supporting documentation and reporting processes
• Ability to maintain electronic offender records
• Ability to support intervention documentation systems

Computer literacy supports participation in modern correctional administrative systems.

Driver’s Licence Requirements

Applicants must possess:

• Valid driver’s licence

Driver qualification supports mobility requirements associated with correctional service delivery environments.

Requirement for driver’s licence does not apply to applicants with disabilities.

Competencies and Attributes Required

Competencies supporting performance within the Social Worker Grade 1 role include:

• Problem-solving ability within correctional service environments
• Decision-making capability aligned with intervention planning requirements
• Facilitation skills supporting group intervention programmes
• Planning capability supporting rehabilitation programme coordination
• Organising skills supporting documentation management
• Leadership ability supporting programme delivery coordination
• Project management capability supporting intervention implementation
• Presentation skills supporting offender awareness sessions
• Counselling capability supporting psychosocial support services
• Policy interpretation ability aligned with correctional legislation
• Conflict management capability supporting offender interaction environments
• Coaching and mentoring ability supporting rehabilitation participation
• Understanding of public service policy frameworks
• Understanding of legislative compliance requirements
• Service delivery orientation aligned with correctional rehabilitation mandates
• Client-centred intervention approach
• Integrity supporting professional conduct within correctional environments
• Honesty supporting ethical social work practice
• Assertiveness supporting intervention implementation effectiveness
• Willingness to travel where required
• Networking capability supporting stakeholder collaboration
• Coordination capability supporting multidisciplinary rehabilitation teams

Competency requirements support professional delivery of correctional rehabilitation services.

Legislative and Policy Framework Knowledge Requirements

Applicants should demonstrate understanding of:

• Public Service policy frameworks
• Correctional rehabilitation strategies
• Social work professional practice legislation
• Correctional Services governance structures
• Offender rehabilitation programme implementation frameworks

Legislative awareness supports compliance with correctional social work practice standards.

Stakeholder Coordination Responsibilities

Stakeholder collaboration duties include:

• Coordinating with internal correctional service departments
• Supporting collaboration with external service providers
• Supporting coordination with community reintegration partners
• Facilitating communication between rehabilitation stakeholders

Stakeholder coordination strengthens integrated offender support systems.

Application Submission Requirements

Applications must be submitted using:

• Completed Z83 application form
• Detailed Curriculum Vitae

Applications must clearly indicate the reference number FSNC 2026/04/36.

Applications may be submitted through:

Postal submission:

Regional Commissioner
Free State and Northern Cape Region
Recruitment Section
Private Bag X20530
Bloemfontein
9300

Hand delivery:

103 Zastron Street
Agrimed Building
Bloemfontein
9300

Email submission:

FSNCHRM@dcs.gov.za

Additional Selection Process Information

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted regarding further recruitment steps.

Shortlisted candidates will undergo:

• Security clearance verification
• Security vetting procedures
• Qualification verification processes
• Criminal record verification checks
• Integrity assessment procedures
• Practical competency assessments

Fingerprint verification may be conducted during interview processes.

Appointment remains provisional pending successful completion of required security clearance procedures.

Applicants who do not receive communication within three months after the closing date should consider the application unsuccessful.

All applications must reach the Department before the closing date of 08 May 2026 at 15:45. The Department reserves the right not to fill the advertised posts.