Learning Support Assistant - SEMH & Youth Justice Pathway - Islington

AMA Admin; Greater London; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 20,000; Part time

Job summary

AMA Admin is seeking a Learning Support Assistant with a SEMH focus for Islington, North London. You will work in a specialist environment supporting pupils with adverse experiences and risk factors, aiming to re-engage them in learning.

The role emphasises trauma-informed approaches, restorative conversations, and safeguarding. Previous exposure to youth justice pathways is advantageous for long-term career aspirations.

Qualifications

• Graduates in Criminology, Psychology or Social Science welcomed.
• Experience with SEMH, youth justice, or trauma-informed settings preferred.
• Wamiliarity with safeguarding procedures is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils with SEMH needs in Islington-based settings.
• Assist with de-escalation and emotional regulation during crises.
• Deliver one-to-one and small-group mentoring and behaviour support.
• Participate in safeguarding and risk assessment activities.

Skills

Emotional regulation

De-escalation

Restorative practice

Mentoring

Safeguarding

Education

Criminology / Psychology / Social Science graduate

Job description

Job Title: Learning Support Assistant - SEMH & Youth Justice Pathway
Location: Islington, North London
Start Date: September 2026
Pay: £101.40-£110/day (depending on experience) | Term time only | 8:30am-3:45pm

Learning Support Assistant - SEMH & Youth Justice Pathway - Islington - Education and Training - Learning Support Assistant - SEMH & Youth Justice Pathway - Islington

Are you a Criminology, Psychology, or Social Science graduate wanting to understand the real link between SEMH, school exclusion, and the youth criminal justice system—specifically within the context of inner-London exploitation, county lines, and serious youth violence?

Learning Support Assistant - SEMH & Youth Justice Pathway - Islington - Education and Training

This role places you directly with vulnerable children at high risk of knife crime, gang exploitation, criminalisation, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Islington faces significant challenges with Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and serious youth violence, with strong cross-borough gang links to Camden, Hackney, and Haringey. This frontline, trauma-informed experience is essential if you are aspiring to be a Forensic Psychologist, Youth Justice Officer, Probation Practitioner, Clinical Psychologist, or Social Worker.

Learning Support Assistant - SEMH & Youth Justice Pathway - Islington - Education and Training - Learning Support Assistant - SEMH & Youth Justice Pathway - Islington

The Role: SEN Learning Support Assistant (SEMH Focus)

You'll join a specialist SEMH school, AP (Alternative Provision), or PRU (Pupil Referral Unit) in Islington, supporting pupils whose needs stem from:

• ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
• Community violence and crime exposure (gangs, county lines, cross-borough rivalries)
• Family breakdown, poverty, and housing instability
• Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE) and gang affiliation
• Knife crime and serious youth violence

Many pupils have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools or are on the edge of the justice system. Your job: help them re-engage with learning, regulate emotions, and make safer choices—often in crisis moments.

What You'll Gain - Practical Youth Justice & SEMH Experience

You'll be actively involved in:

• Emotional regulation & de-escalation - supporting pupils in distress or aggression
• Restorative practice - facilitating conversations around harm and repair
• 1:1 & group mentoring - focusing on decision-making, peer pressure, and risk
• Behaviour support - implementing tailored plans with specialist staff
• Safeguarding - risk assessments, incident reporting, and contextual safeguarding (with a focus on gang exits and county lines disruption)
• Knife crime prevention - workshops and reflective discussions on violence and safety
• Trauma-informed practice - building trust with young people who've experienced harm and rejection

Why This Role Is Ideal for Criminal Justice Careers

The school has strong links to Islington's Youth Offending Team (YOT), Early Help, CAMHS, and Forensic/Clinical Psychology pathways. You'll see firsthand how SEMH, trauma, and exclusion predict youth offending—giving you a credible foundation for:

• Forensic Psychology Doctorates