Children's Services Manager

The Independent Guardian Service exists to provide specialist knowledge, advice and support to safeguard and promote the welfare of child victims or potential victims of human trafficking and/or those who have been unaccompanied or separated.

Independent Guardians are skilled practitioners who are qualified to support and assist Unaccompanied and Asylum-seeking children (UASC) through their asylum journey within Northern Ireland.

The service is seeking to recruit a Children's Services Manager to join our vibrant and skilled team. You will help to ensure the continuation of high quality work and the promotion of rights for Unaccompanied and Asylum seeking Children (UASC) across Northern Ireland.

Essential Criteria

• Hold a professional qualification in Social Work recognised by the NISCC.
• Have completed the AYE and be registered with the NISCC on part 1 of the register with a minimum of 3 years Social Work experience.
• Have demonstrable experience in matters pertaining to child protection and Safeguarding.
• Can outline their experience of working with children and young people and in leading others to best practice in the delivery of Children's Services.
• Can demonstrate, using an example, how they have worked constructively with partner agencies, commissioners and other stakeholders, in a way that enhances the reputation of the organisation externally.
• Have experience of completing external stakeholder monitoring reports to a high standard.
• Have managed finance and budgets.
• Have supervisory experience and set team and individual objectives, coaching others towards high performance and continuous improvement.
• Hold a valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle with business class insurance to use during working hours (alternatively those applicants with a disability that prevents them from holding a driving licence should be able to demonstrate how they can meet the mobility requirements of the post).

If you are interested in this role please ensure that you outline on your application how you meet the required criteria listed in the attached Additional Information Sheet.

In return Barnardo's offers a reward package that includes a competitive salary, 26 days annual leave and 10 statutory/public holidays (pro-rata) per annum, a contributory pension scheme, an additional holiday purchase scheme and staff discounts.

 Location: Belmont Road, Belfast

This is a regional service and at times there is the expectation that the post holder will have to travel to fulfill the role.

 Salary: £42,016 - £53,176.50

 Hours: 37

 Contract Type: Fixed Term to 30 June 2026

Closing Date: Midnight, Thursday 12 June 2025

 Contact details: recruitment.support@barnardos.org.uk

A waiting list of Reserve candidates will be held in the event that similar vacancies arise during the next 12 months.

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

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

The world of work has changed. We are understanding of what works best for our colleagues both current and future as we look to embrace this new way of working. 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, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or any combination of these.

• 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