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Job description

Are you a compassionate leader with a passion for social justice and youth empowerment? As a social worker, do you thrive in dynamic environments where your work makes a real difference? Join our dedicated team and help shape brighter futures for asylum-seeking young people. 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.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support, and develop a multidisciplinary team
• Ensure high-quality, trauma-informed support for young people
• Manage service delivery, budgets, and reporting requirements
• Build partnerships with local authorities, schools, and health services
• Champion the voices and rights of asylum seeking youth
• Please see website for full details

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Have a minimum of one year post qualifying Social Work experience with children and families, including direct work with children and inter-agency working
• Demonstrable experience of supervising social workers/social work students within a professional setting.
• Demonstrable experience of direct work with ethnic minority young people, refugees and/or asylum seekers within the Statutory or Voluntary sector
• Working knowledge of systems relating to young people in relation to trafficking and/or exploitation
• Demonstrable capability in giving feedback to teams in relation to performance
• Experience of completing Internal and external reports in relation to Safeguarding
• Demonstrable experience of promoting and developing a positive culture within a team setting
• Full UK driving licence with access to a car for business purposes.
• Current Registration with NISCC
• Please see website for full details

Desirable Skills

• Experience of completing external stakeholder monitoring reports to a high standard
• Demonstrable record of working constructively with partner agencies and commissioners in a way that can enhance the reputation of Barnardo’s externally

Further Information

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. Contract Type: Commencement 1 July 2026. Although this contract has a permanent status, please be aware that this post is subject to funding currently to 31st March 2029 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 2029. Closing Date: Midnight, 8 March 2026 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 and be registered with NISCC.