WE ARE HIRING…

LECTURER
(TRAINING AND TEACHING COORDINATOR)
PERINATAL MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT
25 month T2 contract
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HEALTH
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

The Perinatal Mental Health Project (PMHP) is located within the Centre for Public Mental Health in the Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health. We are seeking to fill a full time, lecturer position to lead our Capacity Building focus area.

At PMHP, we generate innovative solutions to tackle widespread mental health conditions among antenatal and postpartum women in poor communities. By leveraging cost-effective, evidence-based approaches, we aim to transform cycles of emotional distress and social adversity into cycles of emotional wellbeing and optimal human development. Our five focus areas operate in a mutually reinforcing ways. They are: Advocacy for Action, Systems Strengthening, Knowledge Generation, Capacity Building and Organisational Development and Sustainability.

In terms of Capacity Building, PMHP aims to expand our work in the building of knowledge capital to include a wider footprint of reach and provide more in-depth training of managers and providers working in the Departments of Health and Social Development and in the NGO sector. We intend to expand our work with UCT undergraduate and postgraduate students and collaborate with other Higher Education Institutions and governmental in-service training bodies for developing large scale teaching and training programmes that may operate independently of PMHP. Topics of interest would include maternal mental health, empathic engagement, self-care, developing integrated maternal mental health services and Respectful Maternity Care.

For detailed information on this post, please view the job description on the following link: (View)

The incumbent will work closely with Director of the PMHP as well as staff members working across all focus areas.

Requirements for the job:
• Clinical health sciences degree (including psychology, occupational therapy, nursing, medicine) or social work degree or registered counsellor degree (with professional council registration) and relevant Masters degree (NQF Level 9)
• Three years’ experience in teaching or training at an Institution of Higher Education
• Experience in leadership positions.
• Experience with conducting needs assessments for training / teaching including stakeholder engagement, performance and skills gap analysis, training needs identification, task and job analysis, assessment of resources and training method options and assessing learning styles and preferences
• Experience with Monitoring and Evaluating of teaching and training courses / modules
• Fluency in English and either Afrikaans or isiXhosa
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite and proficiency with database management (e.g. Excel, RedCap or Google Forms)

The following will be advantageous:
• Experience working in the South African public health system or social development system
• Clinical mental health care experience
• Experience in conducting and writing up research
• Experience in writing research grants including reporting to funders
• Experience in using research evidence to influence policy and practice
• Experience providing health or social services to women

Responsibilities:
• Design evidenced-based teaching or training curricula, resources, including multi-media and train-the-trainer resources
• Developing new and maintaining existing stakeholder relationships
• Assessment of beneficiary organisation teaching and training needs and facilitate trainings and lectures
• Facilitate the design of and data collection for teaching and training monitoring
• Assist in developing custom curricula, teaching and training plans and resources (for on-line and in-person capacity building)
• Reporting to PMHP leadership and funders

• Expectation of travel to various work-related locations within the Cape Metro with responsibility for own transport arrangements.
• Availability and willingness to travel nationally and internationally, should the need occur.

The annual cost of employment for this 25-month contract position, including benefits, is between R673 775 and R780,000 (post is funded from research funding).

To apply, please visit the UCT Jobs Site (www.jos.uct.ac.za). (View) (For Internal Applicants) and (View) (For External Applicants) to create a candidate profile and to submit your application.

Please complete/attach the following to your profile before submitting your application:
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Motivational letter that speaks to the requirements of the position and
• A statement of experience and interests in (1) teaching and training (2) partnership building for capacity development
• Three referee names which must include their title and name, position details, relationship to you, their e-mail address and telephone number.

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo competency and pre-placement-medical assessments. References may be requested by UCT at any stage of the selection process.

Any enquiries around the application process to be addressed to Ms Tracy Moore at tracy.moore@uct.ac.za or 021 650 5405.
Closing date: 30 July 2024
Reference number: ID735

UCT is a designated employer and is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress in achieving its equity targets in accordance with the Employment Equity Plan of the University and its Employment Equity goals and targets. Preference will be given to candidates from the under-represented designated groups. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at Employment equity | University of Cape Town (uct.ac.za).
UCT reserves the right not to appoint.

“Growing up in a township, I know that mental health was and still is rarely addressed, and I have seen how disempowered those living with mental illness feel in this space. As an aspiring academic and activist I have a strong interest in the intersections between culture and health and how these exist within spaces for a person gendered as a woman. I think the work of the PMHP gives women a voice, beyond looking at them as only bodies. They take women’s voices seriously. I hope to return to PMHP as I found the experience so fulfilling. Thank you for the opportunity!”

Ath’enkosi Mthwakazi Sopitshi

MPhil Student, University of Cape Town
PMHP Volunteer 2012