Education Therapist Specialist - Speech and Language

About the role

The Department of Education (Eastern Cape) is hiring an Education Therapist Specialist - Speech and Language, based in AE (Butterworth); AW (Fort Beaufort); Alfred Nzo West; JOE Gqabi. This is a permanent post, paying R664,410 – R735,930 a year. How to apply: Applicants must be submitted via the provincial e-recruitment system accessible at: https://ecprov.gov.za and/or at https://erecruitment.ecotp.gov.za. The Provincial e-Recruitment System is available 24/7 and closes at 23: 59 on the Closing Date. To report any e-Recruitment System challenges send an email with your (i) ID Number, (ii) profile email address, (iii) details of your issue to: erecruitment@ecdoe.gov.za. Do not send any applications to this email address; should you do so, your applications/ CV will be regarded as lost and will not be considered. Technical support is limited to working hours: (08:00- 16:30 Mon-Thursday and 08:00-16:00 on Friday). Direct all enquiries to the specified enquiries person or email Address. Hand-delivered, e-Mailed, Faxed, Posted applications will not be accepted. Reference numbers to quote: DOE03/08/2026, DOE04/08/2026, DOE05/08/2026, DOE06/08/2026 Closing date: 23 October 2026. Applications received after closing date will not be considered. Use the new Z83 form and attach a detailed CV.

Responsibilities

• To provide therapeutic and educational services to Public Ordinary and Public Special Schools within the Education District.
• Implement therapeutic capacitybuilding programmes for early identification of interventions relating to barriers to learning.
• Train educators, parents and support staff in the early identification of learning barriers particularly barriers to accessing the curriculum., Conduct assessments, provide short term curriculum interventions to learners experiencing barriers to learning.
• Provide specialized therapeutic support to strengthen District and School-based Support Teams (DBSTs/SBSTs).
• Collaborate as multi-disciplinary teams with DBST to support learners experiencing therapeutic barriers to learning.
• Provide therapeutic support advisory services to SBST.
• Provide direct therapeutic support services to learners when necessary.
• Monitor support programmes for learners with high level needs referred and not yet placed in Special Schools or High-Level Support Programmes.
• Conduct discipline specific research (Speech and Language) and gather information to identify trends and address these needs within the district.
• Participate in inter- and intra-sectoral networks and collaborations.
• Collaborate on therapeutic support matters with multidisciplinary teams at the Special Schools/Resource Centres and Full-Service Schools/Inclusive Schools to include learners who experience curriculum barriers to learning.
• Provide/manage professional supervision of the therapists in Public Special Schools within the District.
• Monitor and support the process of assessment, reporting, referrals and placement of learners according to levels of need.
• Monitor and support the implementation of administration- and record-keeping processes.
• Ensure the compliance of Therapists in the special schools to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) Continuous Professional Development (CPD) policy.
• Report on the implementation of therapeutic support intervention programmes for early identification of barriers to learning, therapeutic participation in and contributions to inter- and intrasectoral networks, therapeutic interventions.
• Monitor and manage assistive devices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Speech-Language Therapy that allows for registration with the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
• Current registration as a Speech-Language Therapist with the HPCSA is required, and proof of this registration must be provided.
• At least 5 years of relevant experience as a Speech-Language Therapist following their community service.
• Experience as an Education Therapist will be considered an added advantage.
• A valid driver's license is required.
• Knowledge:
• Inclusive Education (IE) policies (White Paper 6)
• Screening
• Identification
• Assessment and Support (SIAS) policy
• Guidelines on the development of Fullservice/Inclusive Schools
• Guidelines on the development of Special Schools as Resource Centres
• Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL)
• Integrated School Health Policy
• Skills:
• Therapeutic assessment and techniques
• Multi-disciplinary teamwork
• Preventative and developmental approach
• Development of training programmes
• Report writing
• Analysis of data and trends
• Therapeutic research methodology
• Communication
• Consultation and facilitation skills
• Computer literacy
• Presentation skills and organising and planning