• Reference number:
  22523
• Job Title:
  Project Worker 2 – Play for All
• Location:
  East Belfast Family Connections
• Contract type:
  Permanent (Fixed term funded post)
• End date:
  31 March 2027
• Hours:
  14 (Term Time)
• Salary:
  £28,124.46 – £37,117.07 FTE
• Closing Date:
  8 March 2026
• Interview Date:
  wb 16th March 2026

About the Service

Barnardo’s Play for All is an inclusive play and leisure service for children with learning difficulties, sensory impairments and medical conditions between the ages of 5 and 12.  The aim of Play for All is to provide inclusive play activities for children, to assist in the development of their self-esteem and to provide lasting health and wellbeing benefits.

Play for All Saturday clubs are located in Bangor, Downpatrick, Gilnahirk, Hannahstown and Saintfield and run fortnightly from September to June.

Initial Responsibilities

This Project Worker 2 post will support the Children’s Services Manager in the operational management of the Play for All clubs.

The post holder will be required to:

• liaise with statutory and community groups, parents and young people to promote the service and recruit participants and volunteers
• manage referrals, carry out needs assessments with parents and children, allocate places and monitor waiting lists
• line management responsibility for Play Leaders and volunteers, including induction, supervision and performance management
• oversee operations of Saturday Play Clubs, promoting inclusion and ensuring compliance regarding health and safety, data protection and safeguarding
• administrative duties such as record keeping, data collection and reporting
• contributing to service development

Please ensure that you outline on your application how you meet the following:

Essential requirements:

• Minimum Level 5 qualification in Early Years or Child Development or other relevant subject
• Awareness of factors and issues impacting on children with disabilities and their families
• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering play activities for children aged 5-12
• Demonstrable experience of managing staff and/ or volunteers including induction, supervision, supporting learning and development and performance management
• Knowledge and experience of responding to safeguarding concerns
• Strong IT skills and ability to prepare reports and compile management information using Microsoft Packages
• Experience of partnership working with professionals and commissioners
• Full UK driving licence with access to a car for business purposes. (As driving is an intrinsic part of this role, applicants with a disability that prevents them from driving should be able to demonstrate an alternative means of meeting the mobility requirements of the post)

Occasional evening and weekend work will be an element of this post, and the post holder will need to demonstrate that they can meet this requirement.

Closing Date: Midnight, 8 March 2026

Interview Date: W/C 16 March 2026

Location: 230c Belmont Road, Belfast with option for hybrid working

Hours: 14 hours per week (Term time working 42 weeks out of 52)

Although this contract has a permanent status, please be aware that this post is subject to funding currently to 31 March 2027 and therefore should this funding not be extended further, you may be subject to a redundancy consultation or a TUPE arrangement.

Contact: recruitment.support@barnardos.org.uk

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

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