Job description
Northern Ireland Regional Young Carers Service works with young people aged 8-18 who are caring for a relative at home and are impacted by that role. 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. The support offered to young carers and their families starts with an initial assessment following which agreement is reached on a range of supports including; individual work, peer support, focussed group work.
Responsibilities
* Raise Awareness: Promote greater understanding of the needs and experiences of young carers across the Northern and Western Trust areas.
* Support Service Development: Collaborate with the Children's Services Manager to identify and pursue funding opportunities that enhance and sustain support for young carers.
* Direct Support Work: Engage with children, young people, and their families on both a one-to-one and group basis. Use a range of interventions to assess needs, support wellbeing, and work toward positive, measurable outcomes.
* Family Engagement: Partner with parents and carers to empower them in achieving improved outcomes for their children, fostering resilience and long-term support networks.
* Policy development: collaborate with young carers and the policy team to influence decisions and elevate the profile of young carers.
* Multi-Agency Collaboration: Work in close partnership with health services, children's services, and local community-based organisations to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach to support.
* Safeguarding: Adhere strictly to safeguarding and child protection procedures, ensuring the safety and welfare of all children and young people involved in the service.
* Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all work using Barnardo's electronic case management system.
* Supervision & Mentoring: Provide supervision, support, and guidance to Project Workers, students, and volunteers, in line with Barnardo's policies and procedures.
* Group work with young carers: supporting staff to set up and facilitate groups across both Trust areas, these may be during school holiday times and during the evenings.
* Please see website for full details.
Skills and Qualifications
Essential Skills
* Relevant Qualification: NVQ Level 4 or equivalent in a related field (e.g. Health and Social Care, Youth Work, Education, or Social Work).
* Relevant Experience: Demonstrable experience working with children and families that have been impacted by challenging circumstances e.g. disability, poverty, health inequality, or social disadvantage.
* Independent Working: Proven ability to work independently, including managing a diary, prioritising workload, and solving problems as they arise
* Staff Supervision: Demonstrable experience supervising others with a focus on safeguarding, such as Project Workers, students, or volunteers, in line with organisational policies.
* Group Work: Demonstrable experience in organising and managing group work with young people.
* Travel Requirements: Ability to travel across the Northern and Western Trust areas. A full UK driving licence, access to a car, and appropriate business insurance are required. Evidence of documentation will be requested upon appointment.
* Please see website for full details.
Further Information
Wage: £35,390.46 - £43,392.02 per annum pro rata. Location: Hybrid working using various Barnardo’s work spaces in the Northern & Western HSC localities. Travel will be required across Northern and Western HSCT areas.