Mental Health & SEMH Support Assistant

Aspiring Psychologist – Mental Health & SEMH Support Assistant
Location: Southwark, London
Start Date: 2nd of November 2026
Contract: Full-time, Monday to Friday 8.30am - 4pm - Term Time Only
Pay: £95 per day
Sector: Education and Training – SEMH & Mental Health Support

Aspiring Psychologist – Mental Health & SEMH Support Assistant – Southwark Education and Training – Mental Health – SEMH – Career Development Opportunity

Are you passionate about mental health, neurodivergence, and child psychology? Looking for hands‑on experience supporting young people with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs before pursuing a career in clinical or educational psychology, counselling, CAMHS, occupational therapy, or therapeutic support?

We are recruiting compassionate and resilient Mental Health & SEMH Support Assistants for a primary school in Southwark. This school supports children and young people with a range of SEMH needs, including anxiety, trauma, attachment difficulties, ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent profiles. Many pupils have experienced adverse childhood experiences and require consistent, trauma‑informed support to feel safe, regulated, and ready to learn.

This role is ideal for graduates and aspiring professionals who want to build a long‑term career supporting children with mental health and neurodevelopmental needs.

Why This Role Is Ideal for an Aspiring Psychologist

You will gain invaluable frontline experience directly relevant to:

• Clinical Psychology – trauma‑informed care, attachment theory, mental health assessment, therapeutic engagement
• Educational Psychology – understanding how SEMH impacts learning, behaviour, and school engagement
• Counselling & Psychotherapy – building therapeutic relationships, active listening, and emotional support
• CAMHS & Mental Health Services – early intervention, emotional regulation, and wellbeing support
• Occupational Therapy – sensory regulation, co‑regulation, and daily living skills
• Behaviour Analysis – understanding behaviour as communication, functional approaches, and positive behaviour support
• Neurodivergence & SEN – supporting pupils with ADHD, autism, and other neurodevelopmental profiles

Through daily practice, you will develop expertise in:

• Trauma‑informed and relationship‑based support
• Emotional regulation and co‑regulation techniques
• De‑escalation and crisis management strategies
• Behaviour as communication – interpreting unmet needs
• Sensory support and environmental adaptations
• Building trust and safety with vulnerable young people
• Positive behaviour support and restorative approaches

Most importantly, you will see first‑hand how consistent, empathetic, and psychologically‑informed support can transform a young person’s sense of safety, self‑worth, and ability to engage in education.

Your Core Purpose

Your role is to help pupils feel safe, regulated, understood, and supported throughout the school day. You will:

• Build trusting, consistent, and positive relationships with vulnerable young people
• Support emotional regulation, mental wellbeing, and self‑awareness
• Create a calm, predictable, and nurturing learning environment
• Raise attainment by building confidence, resilience, and engagement in learning
• Help pupils understand that their mental health challenges and neurodivergence do not define their potential

What You Will Be Doing

• Providing 1:1 and small‑group support to pupils with SEMH and neurodivergent needs
• Supporting pupils who may present with anxiety, emotional distress, or challenging behaviour
• Using trauma‑informed, de‑escalation, and co‑regulation techniques to support pupils in crisis
• Helping pupils access lessons and classroom activities by removing emotional and sensory barriers
• Encouraging routine, structure, and predictability to reduce anxiety
• Using calm, consistent behaviour support and restorative approaches
• Supporting smooth transitions throughout the school day
• Collaborating with teachers, SENCOs, therapists, CAMHS professionals, and pastoral teams
• Acting as a positive role model for patience, empathy, resilience, and emotional regulation

We Would Love to Hear From You If You Have:

• A strong interest in psychology, mental health, neurodivergence, or child development
• Experience (paid) in youth work, mentoring, SEN support, coaching or counselling.
• A calm, patient, empathetic, and emotionally resilient personality
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build trust with vulnerable young people
• A genuine passion for supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing

Full training in Safeguarding, Prevent and Allergy and Anaphalaxis will be provided, along with regular supervision and team support.

The school is well connected by public transport in Southwark. The role is term‑time only, offering a stable schedule. Pay is £95 per day, with weekly PAYE payments.

Ready to start your career in psychology and mental health support?

Whether you are a recent graduate or an experienced LSA - We want to hear from you!