Early Years Practitioner

Job description

Are you passionate about giving young children the very best start in life? Do you thrive in a caring, play-based learning environment where no two days are the same?
If so, one of these exciting opportunities could be perfect for you!

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for a permanent Early Years Practitioner for our Pomeroy Developmental Programme - offering 24 hours per week.

As an Early Years Practitioner, you will be a vital part of our multi-disciplinary team, delivering engaging and nurturing early years programmes for children aged 0-4 and their families.

Your role will include:

• Supporting the Developmental Programme for 2-3-Year-Olds, running three 2.5-hour sessions weekly (September-June)
• Delivering fun, creative Outreach Play Sessions in local community settings
• Building trusted relationships with families, including conducting home visits
• Promoting positive play, early learning, and social development
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to ensure the highest standards of care

About Us

G-old Sure Start has been supporting families in the Mid Ulster area for over 24 years. Funded by the Department of Education and delivered by Barnardo's, our work is rooted in community needs and focused on early intervention. We are passionate about helping children and families thrive in warm, inclusive environments.

What We're Looking For

Essential Criteria:

• QCF Level 2 in Playwork or equivalent (or willingness to work towards it)
• Relevant experience working or volunteering with children aged 0-4 years

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience communicating effectively with parents/carers regarding their child's needs

A full driving licence and access to a car are essential, due to the wide geographical area covered across Mid Ulster.

Applicants with a disability that prevents them from driving may demonstrate an alternative means of meeting mobility requirements.

Please read the Job Description and Additional Information Page for the in-depth responsibilities of this role, and when completing your application link please refer to you Skills, Knowledge and Experience in these areas and with an understanding of the context of this role.

Applicants must demonstrate how they meet the Essential criteria when completing the application form to secure an interview.

Ready to Make a Difference?

We're looking for enthusiastic, compassionate, and committed individuals who want to make a genuine impact in children's early years.

Position available in Pomeroy.

Apply now and help shape the future for our youngest children - right from the very beginning.

Contact Details: [email protected]

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 an Enhanced Access NI with Child Barred List check.

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

Pay & Reward Framework

We appreciate our colleagues' dedication and their commitment to delivering excellence in the vital work we do, 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.

We are committed to a rounded colleague experience with an approach to both pay and rewards that are fair, attractive, and progressive. This is in support of our strategic ambition to ensure Barnardo's is a place everyone can belong, grow and thrive.

The salary range advertised is in line with our pay principles, for consistency and fairness while recognising the skills and experience applicants bring to the role. Appointing salaries can be discussed further at appointment stage; we do seek to appoint within this range always exercising responsible stewardship.

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 require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• 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 Buy Your Leave 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.