Project Worker 1 - Educational Advisor
Are you someone who believes every child deserves to thrive?
Do you have the passion, heart, and drive to walk alongside children and young people with SEND — and their families — as they navigate life's challenges and celebrate every success? If so, we want you on our team.
We're growing a team of changemakers — people with a growth mindset, genuine empathy, and a relentless belief in the power of support, connection, and inclusion. Together, we champion the voices of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), and support their families to feel empowered.
Do you want to empower families to advocate for themselves? SENDiass is a service that provides information, advice and support to children/young people with SEND, aged 0-25 years and their families, based on Education, Health and Social Care. We primarily support parents/carers and professionals but always ensure that we try to obtain the voice of the child/YP.
Are you looking for a role that offers lots of variety? The SENDiass team also have opportunity to support with delivery of holiday clubs for children and young people with SEND, so the role offers lots of variety and opportunity for professional development.
You will primarily be based in our Rochdale office but you may sometimes be required to travel elsewhere within the Greater Manchester area at times, so it is essential to hold a valid UK driving licence with access to your own vehicle.
What You'll Be Doing as an Education Advisor:
In this meaningful role, you'll:
1. Build trusting relationships with children, young people, and their families and a range of professionals in the SEND world.
2. Confidently communicate with a range of children, young people, families and professionals in a variety of ways
3. Work alongside schools, professionals, and communities to create inclusive environments by delivering workshops face to face and virtually
4. Be part of a team that celebrates progress, however small — and never gives up.
This is not just a job — it's a chance to shape brighter futures, every single day.
What We're Looking For
We're not just hiring for experience — we're hiring for values.
You'll thrive in this role if you:
5. Are passionate about supporting children and young people with SEND
6. Have a positive, solution-focused outlook and a willingness to grow
7. Communicate with warmth, clarity, and authenticity
8. Are a motivated team player who values collaboration and reflection
9. Willingness to complete 3 Levels of Legal Training relating to SEND
10. Excellent organisational skills
11. The ability to present to an audience and deliver workshops within the community
12. Safeguarding knowledge and good recording skills
13. Use of a car
Whether you're experienced or looking to take your first step into this field, if you care deeply and are ready to learn — we'll support you all the way.
Why Work With Us?
14. A vibrant, motivated team who lift each other up
15. Continuous professional development tailored to your goals
16. Flexible working to help you balance life and work
17. A real sense of purpose every time you come to work
You'll be joining a place where your voice matters, your growth is supported, and your impact is felt — by every child, every family, every day.
Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.
Pay & Reward Framework
We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's . We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.
For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.
Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.
Benefits
Workplace Offer: What it means for you
The world of work has changed. We are understanding of what works best for our colleagues both current and future as we look to embrace this new way of working. Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or any combination of these.
18. Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
19. Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
20. The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
21. A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
22. Service related sick pay from day 1
23. Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
24. Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
25. Cycle2work scheme
26. Interest free season ticket loans
27. Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
28. 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
29. Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
30. Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
31. Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's