Project Worker 1

Barnardos; Cookstown; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

A children's charity is seeking a Project Worker 1 to support young carers aged 8-18 in Northern Ireland. The successful applicant will provide tailored support and raise awareness of the challenges faced by young carers. Applicants must have experience with vulnerable families, problem-solving skills, and access to a car. This position offers flexible working hours and various benefits, including annual leave and pension contributions.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Annual leave increasing with service

Health cash plan option

Cycle to work scheme

Employee discounts

Qualifications

• Experience dealing with issues impacting vulnerable children or families.
• Proven ability to manage a workload independently.
• Demonstrable experience engaging with children and families.

Responsibilities

• Work with young carers aged 8-18, providing tailored support.
• Raise awareness of young carers' needs within services.
• Transporting children and providing in-home support.

Skills

Experience with vulnerable children and families

Independence and problem-solving

Family engagement experience

Driving access and car ownership

Job description

Overview

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

• Experience of dealing with issues and factors that impact on vulnerable children and young people and/or families (e.g. disability, poverty, disadvantage).
• Experience of working independently; diary planning to manage workload and problem solving issues that occur in the course of a working day
• Demonstrable experience of engaging with families – both parents and children
• 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 and Contract

Post : Project Worker 1

Contract Type: Fixed Term Funded until 31st July 2026 (with possibility of extension)

Hours: 22.2 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, Sunday 5 October 2025

Interviews: TBC

Application

Contact Email: 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.

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

The world of work has changed. We embrace flexible working where possible and support a hybrid approach based on trust, flexibility and empowerment.

• 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.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing with service length, pro rata for part-time staff.
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
• Family friendly leave options including Maternity, Paternity and Adoption pay
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with matched contributions; salary sacrifice option available
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings
• Cycle2work scheme
• Progression opportunities via Barnardo's Learning and Development offer
• Discounts and cashback via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Health cash plan option and 24/7 employee assistance programme

Note: Terms and conditions apply based on contract.

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

• Reference number: 21779
• Job Title: Project Worker 1
• Location: Magherafelt / Cookstown
• Locality: Northern Trust
• Contract type: Permanent (Fixed term funded post)
• End date: 31/07/2026
• Hours: 22.2
• Salary: FTE
• Closing Date: 5 October 2025
• Interview Date: TBC

Our values