Background

A new opportunity has arisen for U-turn to partner with Geocentric in some of the Improvement Districts they manage in Cape Town. This entails champion placement as part of a cleaning and greening team under their Urban Management portfolio.

This position:

An intern position has been made available as part of this team. This is a great opportunity for a U-turn graduate to gain employment experience in this field and learn from the Geocentric Team. The successful candidate will be expected to role model a healthy culture of recovery by practicing open and honest communication, taking responsibility for themselves and the outcomes of your work tasks, and setting an example of a committed employee that is eager to learn and grow.

The purpose of this role is to enhance the cleanliness and aesthetic appeal of public spaces within the CID by providing supplementary services to municipal efforts. This includes routine cleaning, greening initiatives, and minor maintenance tasks to foster a safe and welcoming environment for all stakeholders. He/she will report to the CID team-leader on site.

Due to the nature of the partnership, the Intern will be employed by U-turn, but seconded to the CID. Over time, they will however be required to assist the U-turn project coordinator and onsite CID manager with some programme related duties regarding the champions.

KAR’s

• Public Space Cleaning
• Remove litter, debris, and illegally dumped waste from streets, sidewalks, and public areas.
• Empty public waste bins and replace liners as needed.
• Clean and maintain public amenities, including benches and signage.
• Assist in clearing stormwater drains to prevent blockages and flooding.
• Greening and Beautification:
• Support the establishment and maintenance of landscaping projects, including:
  • Public gardens
  • Pathways
  • Green corridors
• Assist in planting, watering, and maintaining potted gardens, ensuring the areas remain vibrant and healthy.
• Clean, maintain and empty Green Litter Bins that are designated for Tin, Aluminium Cans, Glass, and PET (plastic).
• Support recycling initiatives and promote environmental awareness.
• Maintenance Support:
• Report urban defects such as potholes, broken signage, or damaged infrastructure to the appropriate departments.
• Assist in minor maintenance tasks, including graffiti removal and poster cleanup
• Community Engagement:
• Interact courteously with the public, providing information and assistance as needed.
• Collaborate with local businesses and residents to identify areas needing attention.
• Adherence to deployment plan:
• Follow the daily deployment plan and key focus areas as communicated by the Trained Supervisor provided by Geocentric
• Prioritize high-traffic areas or zones specified as urgent or requiring additional attention.
• Health and safety:
• Adhere to all health and safety guidelines provided during training.
• Wear appropriate protective gear and uniforms at all times during operations.
• Handle waste materials safely and responsibly to prevent injury or contamination
• Oversight and support:
• Act as first point of contact for U-turn Champions also assigned to work with the CID, alerting the U-turn Project Manager and CID Focal Point on any projects that arise.
• Provide logistical and administrative support to U-turn Project Manager, including filling and submitting timesheets.

Skills and Competencies:

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Good communication skills and a customer-friendly attitude.
• Physical fitness and stamina to perform manual labor tasks.

Working Conditions:

• Outdoor work in various weather conditions.
• Use of cleaning equipment and tools.
•  Adherence to safety protocols and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Performance Metrics:

• Timeliness and efficiency in completing assigned tasks.
• Quality and consistency of cleaning and greening efforts.
•  Responsiveness to community feedback and reported issues.
•  Contribution to the overall improvement of the CID’s public spaces.

Organisational Fit (where applicable)

• If in Recovery – actively engaged in own ongoing recovery, accessing accountability
  support and practicing recovery behaviour
• If employed as a Professional – affiliation with professional board, continued personal development and accessing supervision
• Gospel orientation – connected to a local fellowship of believers, reading the Bible and grounded in Gospel-motivated Social Action

Internship parameters

U-turn’s graduate internship positions allow U turn Graduates to gain open-labour market experience within a specific department or role at U-turn, integrating into the staff team. Unless specifically stated, this position will be for only 1 year, after which you need to apply for any position internal or external to U-turn. Should you successfully pass the probation period, you will graduate from the Work readiness program.

Although your manager will assist you with transitioning your relationship with U-turn from a service user to a service provider, it is by and large an internal change that needs to happen in your own process and will require you to draw on all the skills you have been taught in the program to transition successfully. Use every opportunity to help you make this shift.

(Please note, as with all open labour market positions, if you are still living in a shelter or a Transitional House, you will need to move into independent accommodation within 3 months of securing an internship position).

Next Steps

Send your CV and a cover letter to recruitment@homeless.org.za