Project Worker 2

Are you looking to make a real difference to the lives of families with autistic children?

The Family Linx Service is seeking a passionate and motivated applicant for a Project Worker position based within Priory Family Centre in Barnsley.

The Family Linx service is funded by The Lottery reaching Communities Grant and has been co-produced with parents/carers and autistic children and young people and provides support to families with autistic children aged up to 12 years both pre and post autism diagnosis. The service has been operational for 7 years.

At Priory Family Centre we work in partnership with families to build upon their strengths to support them to achieve their own goals and outcomes. Providing whole family support, building confidence, coping strategies and resilience.

This is an exciting opportunity to work collaboratively with families and be part of the ongoing development of the service.

Applicants should be committed, enthusiastic, motivated and have excellent communication skills and able to work in a collaborative manner. You will be creative, innovative, adaptable, and have a warm, nurturing, and empathic approach. You will have direct practice experience in the delivery of group work and in working with families on a one-to-one basis, being able to effectively assess needs and develop a programme of support work.

Knowledge and understanding of autism and experience of working with families with autistic children is essential. Cygnet Programme and Teen Life trained facilitators are desirable; however, training will be provided.

You will hold responsibility to recruit, develop and support parent volunteers and peer supporters who have lived experience. Skills working with parents/carers as volunteers is desirable.

It is a requirement of this role that the applicant has a current driving licence and access to a vehicle with business insurance.

The post is for 22.2 hours per week, working over 3 days. Days of the week to be negotiated.

Although this contract has a permanent status, please be aware that this post is subject to funding currently to 31 January 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 January 2027.

For an informal discussion regarding the post please contact Vicki Sexton, Children's Services Manager at vicki.sexton@barnardos.org.uk Or on 01226 770619 / 07523943710.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

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.  

Our basis and values