Behavior Support Worker in London)

Academics; Greater London; On-site; GBP 17,527 - 19,372; Full time

Job summary

Academics in Islington is seeking a dedicated SEMH Teaching Assistant to support vulnerable young people aged 4-16. This full-time role involves building relationships and providing targeted interventions to help students re-engage with education.

Ideal candidates should possess mentoring or youth work experience and demonstrate patience and resilience. Join a committed team dedicated to making a significant difference in Islington's young lives.

Qualifications

• Experience in mentoring, youth work, or counselling.
• Ability to support children with SEMH needs.
• Strong relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Support students with SEMH needs in and out of the classroom.
• Manage and de-escalate challenging behaviour.
• Deliver targeted interventions and support strategies.

Skills

Mentoring or youth work

Counselling or therapeutic support

Supporting children with challenging behaviour

Working with Looked After Children (LAC)

Trauma-informed practice

Job description

SEMH Teaching Assistant / Behaviour Support Specialist

Location: Islington

Start Date: September 2026

Full-Time | Monday - Friday

All-age setting: supporting children aged 4-16 years

Pay rate: £95 - £105 per day

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young people who need it most in Islington?

We are an SEMH/EBD specialist SEN school in Islington seeking resilient, empathetic, and committed individuals to join our team. This role is ideal for people who understand the realities many of our students face and can build strong, trusting relationships that support positive change.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in:

• Mentoring or youth work
• Counselling or therapeutic support
• Supporting children with challenging behaviour
• Working with Looked After Children (LAC)
• Supporting young people vulnerable to gang involvement or exploitation
• Working with children affected by drug-related environments or poverty
• Trauma-informed practice and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
• Behaviour support or intervention roles
• Community outreach or support intervention programmes
• Sports coaching or activity-based youth engagement

This role suits individuals who bring real-world understanding, patience, and consistency. Many of our students in Islington have experienced disruption, instability, or trauma, and need adults who can provide structure, boundaries, and genuine care.

What we're looking for:

• Strong relationship‑building skills
• Calm, confident approach to behaviour management
• Ability to engage and motivate hard‑to‑reach young people
• A team player with a proactive mindset
• Urban‑minded individuals who can relate to the backgrounds of our students

What you'll be doing:

• Supporting students with SEMH needs in and out of the classroom
• Managing and de‑escalating challenging behaviour
• Acting as a positive role model and mentor
• Delivering targeted interventions and support strategies
• Working closely with teaching staff and external professionals

This is more than a job — it's an opportunity to positively impact lives and help young people in Islington re‑engage with education and their futures.

If you have the experience, resilience, and drive to support vulnerable young people in an urban SEMH setting in Islington, we want to hear from you.