West Yorkshire Neurodevelopmental Early Support Worker (30 hours)
The West Yorkshire Neurodevelopmental Early Support Service is recruiting to a part time Project Worker role. The role is 30 hours, working between Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm.
The West Yorkshire Neurodevelopmental Early Support Service provides early, preventative and non-clinical support to families of children and young people aged up to 18 who are awaiting neurodevelopmental assessment or who have received a new diagnosis (6 months), including Autism and ADHD pathways.
Operating across Bradford, Calderdale, Leeds, Kirklees and Wakefield, the service responds to prolonged diagnostic waiting times and post-diagnostic adjustment needs that increase the risk of family distress, escalation of need and pressure on specialist and statutory services.
The service delivers a consistent single point of access across West Yorkshire, offering structured triage and a graduated model of support aligned with Early Help principles, the SEND Code of Practice and NHS Waiting Well priorities.
The service focuses on strengthening parental confidence, reducing stress and anxiety, and supporting children and young people to remain engaged in education, community life and universal services while awaiting assessment or adjusting to a new diagnosis. Through timely engagement, practical guidance and clear system navigation, the service aims to prevent escalation to higher-cost statutory or clinical interventions.
The West Yorkshire Neurodevelopmental Early Support Service delivers measurable improvements for families awaiting neurodevelopmental assessment or adjusting to a new diagnosis, while contributing to system-wide demand management.
Our outcomes include:
- improved parental confidence and understanding of neurodevelopmental needs.
- reduced family stress and anxiety.
- improved emotional regulation and wellbeing for children and young people.
- sustained engagement with education and community provision; and
- reduced escalation to specialist, statutory and crisis services.
In your role as Neurodevelopmental Early Support Worker, you will be:
- Aspirational for every child, young person, young adult and their families
- Passionate to enable people to reach their potential and have the best life they want.
- Deliver group work and one to one direct support to children, young people and parents and carers.
- Approachable
- Non-judgemental, respectful and person-centred
- Compassionate and creative
- Honest and transparent
- A great facilitator
- Treat parents/carers as equals
- Providing peer support to parents and carers
- Holding knowledge of local services and developing an offer for parents and carers to access local support available to them, this will include introducing them to services and being able to access their services.
- Valuing lived experience, being an active listener when parents need support, offering unconditional positive regard and empathy.
Please note: Interview Date: Monday 29th June in Horsforth. Leeds.
Although this contract has a permanent status, please be aware that this post is subject to funding currently to 31st 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 31st March 2027.
values
People & Culture
Workplace Offer: What it means for you
- The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
- Service related sick pay from day 1
- Cycle2work scheme
- Interest free season ticket loans
- 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
- Reference number:23182
- Job Title:West Yorkshire Neurodevelopmental Early Support Worker (30 hours)
- Location:Leeds
- Locality:Three Yorks
- Contract type:Permanent (Fixed term funded post)
- End date:31/3/27
- Hours:30
- Salary:£28,124 FTE (£22,803 per annum)
- Closing Date:21 June 2026
- Interview Date:Monday 29th June 2026