Project Worker 1

BARNARDO'S

25,292 - 29,726 per year

Disabled Children and Young People

Full-time

31st March 2026

Listed today

Are you looking to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people?

We are seeking a Project Worker to join our team! We currently have a vacancy for a temporary Project Worker 1 post to cover maternity leave (until 31st December 2026 with possible extension)

We deliver a wide range of capacity building programmes to help increase disabled young people's ability to share their views on disability issues. Programmes are designed to help young people understand government structures and relevant policy on services such as education, health and social care, transport and employment and learning etc. We facilitate young people's involvement in government policy consultations. Programmes are usually delivered through group work but occasionally individuals require one to one support. Activities include use of assistive technology, multimedia, IT, drama, art and craft, play and music. Some young people have support requirements such as assistance to feed, hoisting and having their personal care needs provided for.

The project provides a safe and stimulating environment to young people who have a range of conditions that enables them to speak out about issues that impact on their lives. Some young people will require specific support to enable them to communicate, understand and impart information. In order to learn about and meet all the individual support needs, we adopt a multiagency approach by working closely with families, social workers, allied health professionals, schools etc.

Young people are facilitated to exercise their rights to have their say by being supported to attend and participate in influencing forums and meetings with policy makers and service providers.

This project is delivered in schools and community venues across NI, so some travel to schools within each of the five Health & Social Care Trusts is required.

Key responsibilities will include:

Undertake referral assessments, meeting with young people, their families and professionals
Organise and deliver direct work and group work sessions
Deliver our schools programme to students in special schools across Northern Ireland
Work with the team to deliver programmes throughout the Southern Trust area
Deliver disability awareness training to parents and professionals
Support young people to share their views
Attend meetings and facilitate workshops to share the views of young people
Keep clear and concise records of all work undertaken

Applicants must demonstrate how they meet the essential criteria when completing the application form to secure an interview.

Essential Criteria

You will have: -

Experience either in a paid or voluntary capacity of working with children and young people with disabilities.
Experience of working to safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures
Knowledge of disability and how it impacts upon children, young people and their families.
Full UK driving licence, business insurance and access to a car for work purposes (this criterion will be waived for candidates with a disability who can demonstrate alternative means of meeting the mobility requirements of the post.

Please read the Job Description and Additional Information Page for the in-depth responsibilities of this role, and when completing your application link please refer to you Skills, Knowledge and Experience in these areas and with an understanding of the context of this role.

Location of Service/Support Offered: Base, Grange Building, Tower Hill, Armagh, BT61 9DR (Travel to schools within each of the five Health & Social Care Trusts is required)

Contact Details: Recruitment.SupportTeam@barnardos.org.uk

The successful candidate will also be required to undertake an Enhanced Access NI with Child and Adult Barred List check.

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 Buy Your Leave 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:22684
Job Title:Project Worker 1
Location:Disabled Children and Young People
Contract type:Fixed term
End date:31st December 2026
Hours:27
Salary:£25,292 - £29,726 (FTE) (£18,456 - £21,691 pro rata)
Closing Date:31 March 2026
Interview Date:TBC

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