Aspiring Youth Justice Worker - Learning Support Assistant

Specialist Behaviour Support | Leeds

Start Date:

September 2026

Working Hours:

Monday to Friday, Term Time Only Pay:
Competitive Daily Rate

Are You an Aspiring Youth Justice Worker Looking to Gain Valuable Experience?

Are you looking to build hands‑on experience supporting young people with behavioural needs, social and emotional challenges, and barriers to education?

Milk Education is recruiting Learning Support Assistants to work within specialist schools and alternative provisions across Leeds. This is an excellent opportunity for aspiring youth justice workers, criminology graduates, psychology graduates, and those interested in supporting vulnerable young people to gain meaningful, practical experience in a supportive educational environment.

The role provides the opportunity to work closely with children and young people who may display challenging behaviours and SEMH needs. You will play a key role in helping pupils develop positive coping strategies, improve emotional regulation, build confidence, and make positive choices.

Working within a specialist behaviour provision will provide invaluable experience in understanding young people’s behaviour, safeguarding, social factors, and the support systems that help children overcome barriers.

• Supporting young people with challenging behaviour and SEMH needs
• Understanding the reasons behind behaviour and identifying triggers
• Developing positive behaviour strategies and intervention techniques
• Supporting emotional regulation and conflict management
• Building trusted relationships with vulnerable young people
• Delivering 1:1 and small group support sessions
• Working alongside teachers, behaviour specialists, SENCOs and external professionals
• Understanding safeguarding, risk management and pastoral support
• Helping young people develop confidence, resilience and independence

You’ll gain insight into the challenges young people face and the importance of early intervention, positive relationships, and consistent support.

• Youth Justice Work
• Probation Services
• Youth Offending Services
• Criminology Careers
• Behaviour Support
• Social Work
• Psychology
• Counselling
• SEN Education
• Pastoral Support

Your role will be to:

• Support young people to overcome behavioural and emotional barriers
• Promote positive choices, resilience and personal development
• Encourage engagement with education and learning
• Build trusting relationships with pupils who may have experienced challenges
• Support pupils in developing social and emotional skills
• Create a safe, structured and supportive environment

• Supporting pupils on a 1:1 basis and in small groups
• Managing and de‑escalating challenging behaviour using positive strategies
• Supporting pupils with emotional regulation and self‑management
• Encouraging positive attitudes towards education
• Acting as a consistent and positive role model
• Building strong relationships with pupils and staff
• Supporting behaviour interventions and individual support plans
• Working collaboratively with teachers, pastoral teams and SEN professionals
• Celebrating progress and helping pupils recognise their achievements

• A degree in Criminology, Psychology, Youth Work, Sociology or a related subject (desirable but not essential)
• Experience working with children or young people through schools, youth work, mentoring, coaching, care or support work
• A genuine interest in supporting vulnerable young people
• Strong resilience, patience and emotional maturity
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills
• A passion for helping young people overcome barriers and achieve their potential

Milk Education is a purpose-driven, eco‑conscious education agency dedicated to making a positive difference in schools and communities.

• Competitive daily rates of pay
• Dedicated consultant support throughout your placement
• Access to CPD, behaviour management training and wellbeing resources
• Long‑term and permanent opportunities available
• A rewarding role where you can genuinely change young people’s lives

Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are proudly APSCo Compliance+ accredited, reflecting our dedication to the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to thorough compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and APSCo guidelines.

INLDS