Join Our Team at The Whistlestop and Make a Real Difference!
At Barnardo's, we set the highest standards in the work we do with children, young people, and families. Every day, we show that we believe in children, and we want passionate, dedicated individuals to join us in making a lasting impact.
We have exciting opportunities for Residential Childcare Workers within our Residential Short Break Services for Children with Disabilities. Whether you're looking for a permanent role (up to 30 hours per week) or a flexible ‘As and When' position, we may have the perfect fit for you!
Where You'll Work🏡 The Whistlestop (Randalstown) – Offering short breaks for children and young people with disabilities within the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
Who We're Looking For
We're searching for kind, committed and motivated individuals who:
✅ Have experience working with children and young people, especially those with disabilities.
✅ Understands safeguarding policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of care.
✅ Are confident in record-keeping and documentation.
✅ Hold a full driving licence (or can meet the mobility requirements of the role).
What You'll Do
⭐ Provide hands-on, compassionate care and support to children and young people during their short stays.
⭐ Help create a fun, engaging, and supportive environment where every child thrives.
⭐ Work as part of a dedicated and dynamic team, committed to excellence in care.
⭐ Enjoy flexible shift patterns, including sleep-ins and waking nights—bringing variety and balance to your role.
Why Join Barnardo's?
✅ Make a tangible impact – Your work will shape young lives, providing the care and support they need to thrive.
✅ Grow professionally – We offer opportunities for training, career progression, and personal development.
✅ Enjoy a competitive salary – Starting from £13.58/hour (£21,196.54 annually for 30 hours) and rising up to £15.31/hour (£23,889.50 annually). The full-time equivalent salary ranges from £26,142.40 - £29,463.72 FTE per year.
✅ Extra rewards for your dedication:
1. £62.64 for every sleep-in shift.
2. Premium Waking Night allowance of ‘time plus one-third' for each waking night shift
✅ Enjoy great benefits, including:
3. 26 days of annual leave plus 10 statutory holidays (pro-rata).
4. A contributory pension scheme to secure your future.
5. A holiday purchase scheme and staff discounts to support your well-being.
If you're compassionate, driven, and ready to make a difference, we want to hear from you!
Job Details
🕒 Hours: A range of contracts available (see Additional Information Sheet for details).
💷 Salary: £26,142.40 - £29,463.72 FTE.
⏳ Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 26 October 2025.
📅 Interviews: 6 November 2025
📩 Ready to Apply?
Make sure to outline how you meet the essential criteria listed on the additional information sheet in your application.
Join us and be part of something truly meaningful.
A waiting list will be held in the event that similar vacancies arise for a period of up to 12 months
Applicants must be registered with the NI Social Care Council (NISCC) or willing to register by appointment.
.
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.
6. 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.
7. 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
8. The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
9. A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
10. Service related sick pay from day 1
11. 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
12. Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
13. Cycle2work scheme
14. Interest free season ticket loans
15. Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
16. 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
17. Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
18. Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
19. Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's