SEMH Assistant

Mental Health and Behavioural Support Assistant

Location: South Shields

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm

We are seeking a dedicated and resilient Mental Health and Behavioural Support Assistant to join our supportive and passionate team. The successful candidate will work closely with teaching staff and pastoral teams to support students with social, emotional, and behavioural needs. You will play a vital role in helping students regulate emotions, develop coping strategies, and access learning in a positive and structured way.

The school is a specialist secondary Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), supporting young people who are unable to attend mainstream school. Our students may have been permanently excluded or are at risk of exclusion, may be experiencing anxiety or crisis impacting attendance, or may be new to the area with identified Special Educational Needs (SEND). As a Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) provision, we are committed to providing a safe, nurturing, and structured environment where every young person is supported to re‑engage with education, develop emotional resilience, and achieve positive outcomes.

• Provide 1:1 and small group support to students with SEMH needs
• Support students in managing behaviour and emotional regulation
• Assist in delivering tailored interventions and support plans
• Build positive, trusting relationships with students
• Promote engagement in learning and classroom activities
• De‑escalate challenging situations calmly and effectively
• Work collaboratively with teachers, SENCOs, and external professionals
• Monitor and record student progress and wellbeing

• Experience working with young people with behavioural or mental health needs (desirable)
• A calm, patient, and empathetic approach
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills
• The ability to remain resilient and professional in challenging situations
• An understanding of trauma‑informed practice (desirable)
• A genuine passion for supporting vulnerable young people

• Competitive pay rates
• Refer a friend or colleague bonus scheme: £100 per referral (terms apply)
• A dedicated consultant to answer any queries and for ongoing support
• Potential permanent contract after a qualifying period

Interested candidates are invited to submit a comprehensive CV outlining their teaching experience and qualifications which are relevant to this role.  to or call us on. Leader Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children; all applicants must go through a thorough vetting procedure, including enhanced DBS and reference checks.