Behaviour Mentor in Oxford)

Academics; Oxford; On-site; GBP 16,000 - 20,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Specialist school environment

Hands-on SEMH experience

Mon-Fri schedule

Job summary

Academics is seeking a dedicated Behaviour Mentor in Oxfordshire to support children ages 5-16 with SEMH, Autism and emotional regulation needs. You will provide targeted 1:1 and small-group mentoring, developing strategies to improve emotions and behaviour in a school setting.

The role emphasizes building strong relationships with pupils, teachers and pastoral staff, adopting a child-centred approach and supporting learning re-engagement after challenging periods.

Qualifications

• Patient, compassionate and emotionally resilient.
• Strong communicator who can build relationships with children, teachers and support teams.
• Observant and able to recognise changes in children's behaviour and emotional presentation.

Responsibilities

• Providing 1:1 and small-group mentoring to children with behavioural, emotional and social needs.
• Building positive, trusting relationships and acting as a consistent role model.
• Helping children recognise and communicate their emotions in an appropriate way.
• Supporting children to develop emotional regulation and coping strategies.
• Encouraging positive choices and helping children understand the impact of their actions.
• Working with teachers and SEN professionals to provide consistent support.

Skills

Patience

Empathy

Strong communicator

Relationship building

Emotional resilience

Team collaboration

Job description

Are you passionate about supporting children who may struggle with their emotions, behaviour or social development? Do you have the patience, resilience and empathy to help children navigate difficult situations and build the confidence to succeed? This Behaviour Mentor opportunity in Oxfordshire could be an ideal role for someone looking to make a genuine difference within a specialist educational setting.

A welcoming and supportive school in Oxfordshire is seeking a dedicated Behaviour Mentor to join their team and provide individualised support to children aged 5-16. The school supports children with a range of needs, including Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, Autism, emotional regulation difficulties, behavioural challenges and social communication needs.

As a Behaviour Mentor, you will develop positive and trusting relationships with children, becoming a consistent and reliable adult they can turn to when they are experiencing challenges. Your role will be centred around understanding each child's individual needs and helping them develop practical strategies to manage their emotions, behaviour and interactions.

The Role

As a Behaviour Mentor, you will provide targeted support to children who may experience difficulties accessing learning or managing the demands of the school environment.

• Providing 1:1 and small-group mentoring to children with behavioural, emotional and social needs.
• Building positive, trusting relationships and acting as a consistent role model.
• Helping children recognise and communicate their emotions in an appropriate way.
• Supporting children to develop emotional regulation and coping strategies.
• Encouraging positive choices and helping children understand the impact of their actions.
• Supporting children during periods of anxiety, frustration or emotional dysregulation.
• Helping children develop stronger social and communication skills.
• Encouraging positive relationships between children and their peers.
• Supporting children to re-engage with learning following periods of difficulty.
• Identifying potential triggers and helping children develop strategies to manage challenging situations.
• Working alongside teachers, pastoral staff and SEN professionals to provide consistent support.

The successful Behaviour Mentor will take a child-centred approach, looking beyond the behaviour itself to understand what may be contributing to a child's difficulties. You will help children identify their emotions, understand their triggers and develop more positive ways of responding to challenges.

About You

We are looking for a Behaviour Mentor who is:

• Patient, compassionate and emotionally resilient.
• Confident building strong professional relationships with children.
• Able to remain calm and consistent when faced with challenging behaviour.
• Passionate about child development, emotional wellbeing and positive behaviour support.
• A strong communicator who can work effectively with children, teachers and wider support teams.
• Observant and able to recognise changes in children's behaviour and emotional presentation.
• Able to establish clear boundaries while maintaining a warm and supportive approach.
• Positive, proactive and willing to adapt their approach to meet individual needs.
• Previous experience working with children or young people is beneficial but not essential.

This Behaviour Mentor position could be particularly well suited to graduates or individuals with experience or an interest in Psychology, Education, Youth Work, Counselling, Mental Health, Social Care, Criminology or other child-focused professions.

Why Apply?

This Behaviour Mentor role offers the opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience supporting children with a range of emotional, behavioural and additional needs.

You will develop practical skills in:

• Behaviour support and positive behaviour strategies.
• Emotional regulation and wellbeing support.
• Building professional relationships with children.
• Conflict resolution and de-escalation.
• Communication and active listening.
• Understanding the underlying factors behind behaviour.
• Supporting children to develop independence and resilience.
• Working collaboratively with education and pastoral professionals.

For graduates considering careers in Psychology, Educational Psychology, Counselling, Teaching, Social Work, Youth Services or Mental Health, the experience gained as a Behaviour Mentor can provide a strong foundation for future training and professional development.

What We Offer

This Behaviour Mentor opportunity provides:

• £85-£110 per day, depending on experience.
• Full-time, Monday-Friday working hours.
• A supportive specialist school environment.
• Hands‑on experience working directly with children aged 5-16.
• Experience supporting children with SEMH, Autism, emotional regulation and behavioural needs.

Make a Difference as a Behaviour Mentor

The ideal Behaviour Mentor will understand that challenging behaviour is often a form of communication and will be committed to helping children understand themselves, develop new strategies and make positive progress.