Aspiring Clinical Psychologist

Pertemps; Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An independent SEN school is seeking a Pastoral & Learning Support Assistant in Kingston upon Thames. This role involves supporting students aged 3–19 with social, emotional, and mental health needs. The ideal candidate is passionate about helping young people, possesses strong interpersonal skills, and is resilient in challenging situations. Full training will be provided. This opportunity is perfect for Psychology or Criminology graduates seeking practical experience in a supportive educational environment.

Benefits

Hands-on experience with vulnerable students

Supportive school environment

Opportunities to explore psychology careers

Qualifications

• Passionate about supporting young people with SEMH needs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to build strong, supportive relationships.
• Calm, empathetic, resilient and able to work in challenging situations.
• Motivated, professional and enthusiastic to learn.
• No previous experience required; full training and CPD provided.

Responsibilities

• Support students with social, emotional and mental health needs.
• Implement therapy-led approaches integrating education.
• Help students develop communication, social and independence skills.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Empathy

Resilience

Motivation to learn

Job description

Description

Location: Kingston Upon Thames, London

Contract: Full-time, term-time only

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4:00pm

Start Date: ASAP

Pay: £104 per day

Are you passionate about understanding and supporting young people’s mental health and emotional wellbeing? Do you want hands‑on experience in SEMH settings while exploring a career as a Clinical or Educational Psychologist?

About the School

An independent SEN school in Kingston Upon Thames seeks a motivated Pastoral & Learning Support Assistant / Aspiring Clinical Psychologist to join their dedicated team. The school supports students aged 3–19 with social, emotional and mental health needs and associated challenging behaviours. Some of the needs you will be supporting are:

• Severe and complex speech and language difficulties
  Pupils may struggle with expressive language, understanding spoken language, speech sound production, and social communication (pragmatics).
• Autism‑related needs
  Many pupils require support with social interaction, flexibility of thinking, sensory processing, emotional regulation, and understanding social cues.
• Social, emotional and mental health needs (SEMH)
  Anxiety, low self‑esteem, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties managing change are common, often linked to communication barriers.
• Learning differences linked to communication needs
  While many pupils have average or above‑average cognitive ability, their language needs significantly impact access to the curriculum, literacy, and academic progress.
• Sensory processing differences
  Pupils may be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to noise, light, touch, or movement and benefit from carefully structured, low‑arousal environments.
• Executive functioning and independence needs
  Support is often required with organisation, attention, planning, transitions, and developing independence skills.

The pupils benefit from a highly specialist, therapy‑led approach, integrating education with speech and language therapy, strong pastoral support, predictable routines and personalised strategies that enable them to communicate effectively, access learning and develop socially and emotionally.

This is an excellent opportunity for Psychology or Criminology graduates to gain practical experience in restorative, trauma‑informed approaches and to develop skills essential for a future career in clinical psychology, educational psychology or therapeutic roles.

Person Specification

• Passionate about supporting young people with SEMH needs.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to build strong, supportive relationships.
• Calm, empathetic, resilient and able to work in challenging situations.
• Motivated, professional and enthusiastic to learn.
• No previous experience required; full training and CPD provided.

What We Offer

• Hands‑on experience with vulnerable, disengaged students.
• Opportunities to explore careers in clinical psychology, educational psychology, therapy or SEN support.
• A supportive, small‑school environment where you can make a real difference every day.

How to Apply

If you are passionate about supporting disengaged young people and helping them see the value of education, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now or contact Charlie Hayes on 07758 135 941 for more information.

You must have the right to work in the UK.