Social, Emotional and Mental Health Teaching Assistant; Temporary

Position: Social, Emotional and Mental Health Teaching Assistant (Temporary)
Are you passionate about making a meaningful difference in the lives of young people who need it most?
Do you have the resilience, patience, and enthusiasm to support students with significant behavioural, social, and emotional needs?
If so, this Teaching Assistant role in an SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) school could be the perfect opportunity for you.

Link3 Recruitment is seeking a dedicated, compassionate, and adaptable Teaching Assistant to work with excluded students in a specialist SEMH provision. These students may present with behavioural challenges, have experience within youth offending settings, or require additional support with functional skills such as English and Maths.

This is an incredibly rewarding role where you will help re-engage young people in learning, build meaningful relationships, and support them both academically and emotionally.

About the Role

As an SEMH Teaching Assistant, your day-to-day responsibilities will involve:

* Supporting students with complex behavioural, emotional, and social needs

* Helping deliver a highly personalised curriculum tailored to each student

* Engaging learners in alternative activities such as:

* Outdoor learning

* Baking and cooking sessions

* Gardening

* Mechanics and practical skills

* Providing 1:1 or small group support

* Building trust and positive relationships with young people

* Managing challenging behaviour using de-escalation strategies

* Supporting students’ development of functional skills and confidence

* Working collaboratively with teachers, behaviour mentors, and pastoral staff

This role requires patience, creativity, and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Every day is different—and every day is an opportunity to help a young person grow.

What We’re Looking For

To thrive in this role, you should have:

* A genuine passion for supporting vulnerable or disengaged young people

* The resilience to work with students displaying challenging behaviour

* Strong communication and relationship-building skills

* A positive, calm, and flexible approach

* Experience in SEMH, PRU, youth offending, behaviour management, or a similar environment (desirable but not essential)

* A willingness to engage in hands-on, practical learning activities

This role is ideal for someone who truly cares about helping young people overcome barriers to learning and succeed beyond the classroom.

What the School Offers

This specialist SEMH provision provides:

* A supportive, nurturing team environment

* Ongoing training and professional development

* A varied and engaging workday with creative, practical learning

* Opportunities to progress within the school

* A chance to make a significant difference in the lives of young people who need dedicated support

Essential Requirements

All applicants must have:

* A valid Right to Work in the UK

* An Enhanced DBS Check (Child Workforce) or registration on the Update Service

* A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children