Barnardo's is a leading children's charity and in Barnardo's NI our staff team of over 400 people deliver more than 45 services regionally across 30 sites.
We are currently seeking a Project Worker 1 for our Regional Young Carers Service in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area. The service works with young people aged 8-18 years old who are caring for a relative at home and are negatively impacted by that caring role. The Young Carers may have a role in looking after a sibling with a disability, a parent with a physical or mental health problem or a family member who has been misusing substances. A range of supports are offered to young carers and their families including; individual work, peer support, focused group work. The Service also raises awareness of young carers and supports them to lobby for improved services.
Essential Criteria:
1. Experience of dealing with issues and factors that impact on vulnerable children and young people and/or families (e.g. disability, poverty, disadvantage).
2. Experience of working independently; diary planning to manage workload and problem solving issues that occur in the course of a working day
3. Demonstrable experience of engaging with families – both parents and children
4. As the work will include transporting children/young people the post holder must have access to a car. A full driving licence and appropriate business insurance are also essential and evidence of these documents will be required if appointed.* As driving is an intrinsic part of this role, applicants with a disability that prevents them from driving should be able to demonstrate an alternative means of meeting the mobility requirements of the post.
Post: Project Worker 1
Contract Type: Fixed Term until 31st July 2026 (Maternity)
Hours: 37 per week (Hours can be negotiated) Includes evenings and occasional weekends
Salary: £25,492.40 - £29,726.27 FTE
Location: Northern Trust (mainly Magherafelt / Cookstown areas)
Closing date: Midnight, 1 March 2026
Interviews: TBC
Please ensure you read the Additional Information Sheet attached for further details and outline on your application how you meet the essential criteria.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Access NI with Child and Adult Barred List Check.
A waiting list will also be compiled for similar vacancies that may become available across Barnardo's NI over the next 12 months.
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
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, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.
5. 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.
6. 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
7. The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
8. A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
9. Service related sick pay from day 1
10. 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
11. Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
12. Cycle2work scheme
13. Interest free season ticket loans
14. Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
15. 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
16. Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
17. Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
18. Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's