Secondary Learning Support Assistant - SEMH

Social, Emotional and Mental Health | Behaviour Support | Alternative Provision

Location: Colchester, Essex
Salary: -23,742 - -24,917 per annum (Scale 5, Points 10-13)
Contract: Permanent
Setting: Secondary Alternative Provision

Are you passionate about supporting young people with SEMH needs?

We are recruiting on behalf of a local education trust for a resilient, patient and dedicated Learning Support Assistant (LSA) to work within a secondary alternative provision setting in Colchester.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has experience supporting secondary-aged pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, particularly those who may have experienced trauma, adversity, disrupted education or difficulties engaging with mainstream schooling.

The successful candidate will be confident managing challenging behaviour, building positive relationships with young people and providing consistent support to pupils who may struggle with emotional regulation, engagement and maintaining positive relationships.

You will work closely with teaching staff, the SENCO and wider support team to create a safe, structured and supportive environment where young people can rebuild confidence, develop essential life skills and achieve positive outcomes.

The Role - Secondary SEMH Learning Support Assistant

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing one-to-one and small-group support to secondary-aged pupils with SEMH and additional learning needs.

• Supporting young people who may display challenging behaviour, emotional dysregulation, anxiety or difficulties with social interaction.

• Building positive, trusting relationships with pupils, establishing clear boundaries and maintaining consistent expectations.

• Supporting behaviour management, de-escalation and positive behaviour strategies in line with school policies.

• Understanding the impact of trauma, adverse childhood experiences and challenging backgrounds on young people''s behaviour and development.

• Encouraging pupils who may be disengaged from education to participate in lessons and develop positive attitudes towards learning.

• Supporting pupils with emotional regulation, resilience, social skills and independent living skills.

• Delivering targeted interventions to support individual pupil needs and personal development.

• Working alongside teachers to support classroom learning, prepare resources and adapt activities.

• Monitoring and recording pupil progress, behaviour and engagement, providing feedback to teaching staff and the SENCO.

• Supporting reintegration plans and helping young people prepare for future educational and personal transitions.

The Ideal Candidate

We are particularly interested in hearing from candidates with experience in SEMH, behaviour support or working with vulnerable secondary-aged young people.

Relevant backgrounds could include:

• SEMH Teaching Assistant or Learning Support Assistant.

• Behaviour Support Assistant or Behaviour Mentor.

• Alternative Provision or Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) experience.

• Secondary school Teaching Assistant with strong behaviour management experience.

• Youth Worker or Residential Support Worker.

• Pastoral Support Worker or Inclusion Mentor.

• Experience supporting young people with trauma, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

You will ideally have:

• Experience working with teenagers or secondary-aged pupils.

• A strong understanding of SEMH needs and how these can affect behaviour, engagement and learning.

• Confidence managing challenging behaviour and responding calmly to difficult situations.

• The ability to build positive relationships with young people who may be disengaged, resistant to support or have difficulty trusting adults.

• A patient, resilient and consistent approach, with the ability to maintain professional boundaries.

• An understanding of trauma-informed practice, emotional regulation and de-escalation strategies.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a wider team.

• A genuine passion for helping vulnerable young people overcome barriers and achieve their potential.

Desirable:

• Experience working within a secondary SEMH school, PRU or alternative provision.

• Team Teach or other recognised positive behaviour management training.

• Experience supporting young people with ADHD, autism, attachment difficulties or complex behavioural needs.

• First Aid qualification.

Candidates must be willing to undertake relevant training, including approved physical intervention training, and use restrictive physical intervention if required, in accordance with the setting''s policies and training.

What''s on Offer?

• Permanent Learning Support Assistant position.

• Salary of -23,742 - -24,917 per annum.

• Opportunity to work with secondary-aged pupils with SEMH needs.

• A rewarding role where you can make a genuine difference to young people''s lives.

• Supportive working environment alongside experienced teaching and support staff.

• Opportunities for ongoing training and professional development.

Safeguarding

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including references, identity and right-to-work verification, and an enhanced DBS check with relevant barred list checks where applicable.

How to Apply

If you have experience working with secondary-aged young people and are passionate about supporting those with SEMH needs, challenging behaviour or barriers to education, we would love to hear from you.

Whether you are currently working as an SEMH Teaching Assistant, Behaviour Mentor, Youth Worker, Pastoral Support Worker or within an alternative provision setting, this could be an excellent opportunity for your next career move.

Apply today with your CV to be considered for this opportunity.

INDELSEC