We are seeking to add As & When Residential Project Workers to our Barnardo's Leaving Care Service teams in Ballymena and Belfast.
Barnardo's sets very high standards for the work we do with the children, young people and families we support. We demonstrate every day through our work that we believe in children and we want people to work with us who share our belief, and are willing to strive for excellence in all aspects of their work.
The Leaving Care Service supports semi-independent living for care experienced young people aged 16 -21yrs. The service is jointly commissioned by Health and Social Care Trusts and Supporting People.
Further Service details can be found in the attached Additional Information sheet.
We use a strength-based approach to build resilience and facilitate better outcomes for children and young people. Our practice is guided by attachment and trauma-based models of intervention.
As & When Residential Workers provide consistent cover to the Leaving Care Service meaning young people have continuity of support even when team members are off on leave. You will have the opportunity to build relationships with young people and become familiar with the ethos and practice of the services. Cover is most usually required for evening, weekend and sleep in shifts.
Essential Criteria
1. Demonstrable experience of working with children and young people (this does not have to be gained in formal employment).
2. Experience of working within safeguarding policy and procedures
3. Experience of record keeping
Please ensure that you outline in your application how you meet the essential criteria outlined above.
Base: Leaving Care Service, Ballymena and/or Leaving Care Service, Belfast
Hours: As and When required
Salary : £13.58 per hour
Sleep in allowance : £62.64 per sleep in
Closing Date: Midnight, Monday 26th January 2026
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.
Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced Access NI with Child and Adult Barred List Check, and register with NISCC.
Waiting List: A waiting list of applicants will be compiled for any similar posts arising in the next 12 months.
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.
4. 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.
5. 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
6. The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
7. A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
8. Service related sick pay from day 1
9. 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
10. Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
11. Cycle2work scheme
12. Interest free season ticket loans
13. Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
14. 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
15. Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
16. Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
17. Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
*T&C's