Job Description

Ready for a Social Work role where you can truly make an impact?
Do you thrive on challenges and want to help children, young people, and families build brighter futures? If that sounds like you - this could be your next step.
We're looking for two passionate experienced Social Workers to join our dedicated team at our Newry and Armagh Family Resource Centre, part of Barnardo's.
Our service has abeen operating for over 30 years and has strong reputation for supporting families through tough times, helping them find strength, stability, and hope.
This is more than a job, it's a chance to make a real difference. You'll work directly with families, carrying out assessments and providing therapeutic support that changes lives.
We have two roles available:

• Full-time: 37 hours per week (5 days)
• Part-time: 22.2 hours per week (3 days)

What we're looking for:

• A qualified Social Worker (with post-AYE experience)
• Experience working with children and families; undertaking childcare assessments/court directed work
• Someone who builds strong, trusting relationships with both children and adults
• A positive, can-do attitude and a collaborative approach
• Flexibility to adapt to families' needs
• A commitment to learning and professional growth

(Please review the additional information sheet for the full eligibility criteria)
What we offer:

• A warm, supportive team environment
• Full induction and ongoing supervision
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• The chance to be part of something truly meaningful

Role details:

• Location: Newry (with travel to Armagh and Dungannon Family Resource Centres, plus occasional travel across the Southern Trust area)
• Salary: 35,390.46 - 43,392.02 (FTE)
• Closing date: Midnight, Sunday 11th January 2026
• Interviews: Weeks commencing 19th January and 2nd February 2026

We'll also create a waiting list for similar roles across Barnardo's NI over the next year.
Interested?
Apply now and show us how you meet the essential criteria in the Additional Information Sheet.
Questions? Email: recruitment.support@barnardos.org.uk
Successful applicants will need to complete an Enhanced Access NI check with Child and Adult Barred List.
Apply early-due to high interest, this advert may close before the deadline.
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.

• 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
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 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.

Skills Required