Independent Living Skills Support Worker - BARNARDO'S

Independent Living Skills Support Worker

BARNARDO'S

25,492 - 29,755 per year

Barnardo's Swansea

Full-time

7th January 2026

Are you passionate about empowering young people to thrive independently? Join our dynamic team and help shape brighter futures for care-experienced young people and young people at risk of homelessness in Swansea.

About Barnardo's Swansea

We deliver services that support young people aged 14–25 to:

Access help in times of crisis
Understand the realities of independent living
Develop essential life skills and confidence
Build self-esteem through social inclusion
Develop key skills in preparation for the world of work

Our services include Believe Positive Destinations, Bloom (life coaching and befriending), Supported Lodgings, and the Transition and Training Flats Service—where young people experience independent living in a safe, supportive environment.

What You'll Do

As part of the Transition and Training Flat team, you'll:

Leadinteractive one-to-one and group sessions that build life skills, independent living skills and tenancy readiness
Supportyoung people in our training flats, helping them develop practical skills such as cooking, budgeting (including managing benefit claims), and managing bills
Work flexiblyacross weekdays, evenings, and weekends to meet young people's needs. The service operates from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 6pm on weekends. You will be expected to work one weekend in three. Sample rota available on request.
Collaboratewith young people and professionals to create tailored support plans and track progress using outcome-based tools
Create and deliverengaging content using social media and digital platforms to connect with young people in innovative ways

Why Join Us?

Be part of a passionate, supportive team committed to transforming lives

Benefit from Barnardo's comprehensive induction and training relevant to your role

Use creativity and technology to make a real impact
Enjoy a role where no two days are the same

What We're Looking For (Essential Criteria)

Knowledge of issues affecting young people, especially those who are care-experienced or at risk of homelessness
Experience of direct work with young people in a relevant setting and
Experience of delivering group session such as issue based workshops and independent living skills programmes
Ability to create tailored support plans and demonstrate positive outcomes achieved
Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities
Ability to travel independently to meet the requirements of the post

Desirable

Experience of using social media and digital platforms to deliver sessions and create promotional content

Additional Information:

You must demonstrate in your application that you currently use the skills outlined above, and those in the Job Description/Person Specifications, or have used them previously in employment, education, training, volunteering etc.

Although this contract has a permanent status, please be aware that this post is subject to funding currently until March 2027 and therefore should this funding not be extended further, you may be subject to a redundancy consultation or a TUPE arrangement. This contract is due to expire on 31.03.27

For further information contact Rachel Cooper on rachel.cooper@barnardos.org.uk

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.

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  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 People & Culture 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.

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.

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 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
The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
Service related sick pay from day 1
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
Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
Cycle2work scheme
Interest free season ticket loans
Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
20% discount at Barnardo's stores
Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. 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:22207
Job Title:Independent Living Skills Support Worker
Location:Barnardo's Swansea
Contract type:Permanent (Fixed term funded post)
End date:31.03.2027
Hours:37
Salary:£25,492.00 - £29,755.00
Closing Date:7 January 2026
Interview Date:14.01.26

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