Mental Health Support Worker/Behaviour Mentor/LSA

Protocol Education Ltd; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational support provider in Southend is seeking a Mental Health Support Worker to assist students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. This full-time role operates Monday to Friday and includes building strong relationships with students to help them develop coping strategies and confidence. Applicants should have experience in social care or a genuine desire to support young people. Join a supportive team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in children's lives.

Benefits

Opportunities for training and development

Supportive team environment

Free online safeguarding training

Qualifications

• Experience in social care preferred.
• Strong desire to help children with additional needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Support students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
• Help young people build resilience and confidence.
• Build strong relationships to encourage engagement.

Skills

Experience in social care

Youth work or mental health support

Communication skills

Building rapport

Job description

Mental Health Support Worker / Behaviour Mentor / Learning Support Assistant – Southend | Start ASAP

Are you passionate about supporting young people with their mental health, emotional wellbeing, and personal development? Do you want a role where you can make a genuine and lasting impact every day? Protocol Education is seeking dedicated individuals to join a specialist Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) in Southend as a Learning Support Assistant, Behaviour Mentor, or Mental Health Support Worker.

Who We’re Looking For:

• Experience in social care
• Personal experience supporting individuals with SEND
• Youth work, mental health support, or relevant family experience
• Or simply a strong desire to help children and young people overcome challenges

We’d love to hear from you.

Your Role Will Include:

• Supporting students with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs
• Helping young people build resilience, confidence, and positive coping strategies
• Building strong, trusting relationships to encourage engagement and progress
• Using a calm, patient, and adaptable approach to help students navigate daily challenges
• Working closely with the wider pastoral and teaching team to support each student effectively

What You’ll Bring:

• A positive, proactive attitude
• The ability to build rapport and communicate effectively
• A genuine passion for helping children with additional needs succeed
• A resilient and adaptable character suited to a PRU environment
• Previous school experience is preferred but not essential

Position Details:

• Full‑time, long‑term position
• Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 3:30pm
• Supportive team environment with opportunities for training and development

Why Join Us?

At Protocol Education, we are committed to supporting both our staff and the young people we work with. You will be part of a team that values your contribution, encourages professional growth, and gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of students who need it most.

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we encourage you to apply today and take the next step in a rewarding and impactful career.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.

All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.

Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance “Keeping Children Safe in Education”, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.

We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service.

Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Protocol Education website.