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Project Worker Step Up Step Down

Salary: £27,405.00 - £32,480.00 (pro rata)

Hours: Part-time-28 hours per week

Location: We offer hybrid working and we have an office in Belfast. The successful candidate must be able to travel to the Belfast office as needed as well as attend events and activities across the South Eastern Trust area.

Who we are 

The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity and membership organisation, dedicated to empowering, enriching and supporting the relationships at the heart of the fostering community.

Who we are looking for

Step Up Step Down supports families on the edge of care in dignifying and nurturing ways. We are looking for someone who is passionate about improving the lives, experiences and outcomes for children and young people and their families.

The successful candidate will hold a third level qualification in youth work, sociology, psychology, community work, social work or equivalent, and will have a minimum of one year’s experience actively supporting children and young people.

They will need to demonstrate knowledge and experience of encouraging the engagement and participation of children, young people and families and demonstrate the ability to work in a trauma-informed setting, with a solution focused approach. 

What you’ll be doing

Step Up Step Down takes a trauma-informed, innovative approach to supporting families on the edge of care. The key outcomes of this programme are improved family relationships, greater connectedness, increased wellbeing and ultimately children and young people are supported to remain at home with their birth families rather than entering care when this is the best outcome for them.

The Fostering Network works collaboratively with South Eastern Trust to deliver this service, ensuring the input of children, young people and families in the design and implementation of the programme.

The Project Worker will work with the Head of Step Up Step Down and the wider Step Up Step Down team to support children, young people, kinship foster carers and the wider kinship family group  through delivery of training, nurture-based activities, learning programmes and family activities.

The Project worker will work to  develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, encourage participation and support quality delivery of the programme in line with project aims and objectives. The majority of work will take place across the South Eastern Trust areas however at times there may be activities in other parts of Northern Ireland. 

 

At this point, we hope you're feeling excited about the job description you’re reading. Even if you don't feel that you meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. 

 

What we can offer you

  • 38 days leave (including bank holidays)
  • A range of family friendly and fostering friendly leave options  Flexible and hybrid working 
  • Enhanced maternity and adoption pay
  • Enhanced sick pay
  • 24/7 Employee Assistance Helpline
  • Pension and life assurance
  • Contribution to eye tests and lenses
  • Season ticket loans

Our commitments to you

The Fostering Network is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community and especially those from under-represented and minoritised backgrounds. All applications and hiring decisions will be considered on merit.

  • If you identify as care experienced and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview under our commitment to the Care Leaver Covenant
  • If you have a disability, please tell us what reasonable adjustments would support your participation in the recruitment process
  • We are open to job-sharing arrangements for all roles, please indicate this in the application form if you are applying as part of a job share

Looking for more information?

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Jade at [email protected]

Ready to apply?

To apply please email your completed application form to [email protected].  CVs will not be accepted.

Closing date: 12 September 2025

Shortlisting date: 15 September 2025 (Candidates informed on 16 September)

Interview date: 25 September 2025

Interview location: Online

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

The Fostering Network Registered office 87 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HA Registered charity in England and Wales 280852 and in Scotland SC039338 Registered in England and Wales as a limited company no. 1507277 VAT Registration 231 6335 90 thefosteringnetwork.org.uk

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