Childcare Worker

Childcare workers are employed by children's homes, places of safety and boarding schools as house parents or housemasters.

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Childcare workers are responsible for the physical and mental well-being of the children including: supervising the hygiene and dressing of younger children; helping with homework; supervising meal times; ensuring that the children get medical attention; and administering medication when they are sick.

The most important job of a childcare worker is to take care of the children’s emotional needs. Children in homes and places of safety need extra love and reassurance to help them recover from traumatic experiences. Children at special boarding schools also require a great deal of physical and/or emotional attention, depending on their particular problems.

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Personal Requirements

• patient and compassionate
• genuinely love children
• concern for the well-being of children
• willing to take care of problems - emotional or physical - that these particular children are experiencing

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How to Enter

Schooling & School Subjects

• Grade 9 Certificate.
• National Senior Certificate for diploma courses.

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What to Study

Childcare workers are given in-service training to effectively perform their duties.

TVET (Technical Vocational Education and Training) Colleges such as  SW Gauteng and False Bay, offer courses in Childcare.

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Employment

• children’s homes
• places of safety
• boarding schools

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Further Information

Any of the above potential employers

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Getting Started

• visit children’s homes and observe the work involved in caring for children
• talk to a childcare worker about these careers

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Related Occupations

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