Student Mentor

TeacherActive; Colchester; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 23,000; Full time

Job summary

TeacherActive in Colchester is seeking a resilient SEMH Support Staff / Learning Support Assistant to help children and young people with SEMH and additional needs. You will work in a specialist education setting, building trust and routines to support daily learning.

Experience from care, youth work, NHS mental health or similar environments is welcomed, even if not from a school. The role focuses on de-escalation, relationship-building and promoting positive outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting SEMH or related needs.
• Background in care, youth work or health services.
• Ability to stay calm and build trust with students.

Responsibilities

• Support pupils with SEMH and additional needs throughout the school day.
• Build strong, positive relationships with young people.
• Support pupils 1:1 and in small groups.
• Help pupils regulate emotions and stay engaged with learning.
• Use positive behaviour management and de-escalation techniques.
• Support pupils who have experienced trauma or challenges.
• Encourage confidence, independence and decision making.
• Work with teachers and pastoral teams.
• Help create a structured, safe environment.

Skills

SEMH experience

Transferable skills

Resilience

De-escalation

Job description

Location: Colchester, Essex

Role: SEMH Support Staff / Learning Support Assistant

Experience: SEMH or relevant transferable experience highly desirable

Are you experienced in supporting people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, challenging behaviour or complex needs?

Perhaps your experience hasn't been within a school, but you've developed valuable skills working in a residential home, the Prison Service, NHS mental health services, care, youth work or another challenging environment.

We are looking for resilient, confident and compassionate individuals to join a specialist education setting in Colchester, supporting children and young people with SEMH and additional needs.

Your Transferable Experience Matters

You do not need to come from a traditional education background.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who have experience working with individuals with mental health needs, challenging behaviour, trauma or complex social and emotional needs.

Your experience could include:

• Residential care or children's homes – supporting young people with complex needs, trauma or challenging behaviour
• Prison Service or secure settings – managing challenging situations, maintaining professional boundaries and using de-escalation skills
• NHS or mental health services – supporting individuals experiencing mental health difficulties or complex emotional needs
• Youth work, outreach or mentoring – building positive relationships with vulnerable or disengaged young people
• SEMH or SEN schools – supporting pupils with behavioural, emotional or additional needs
• Care and support work – helping individuals with complex needs develop independence and positive routines

If you've developed the ability to remain calm under pressure, build trust, set clear boundaries and understand behaviour, your experience could transfer extremely well into an SEMH school environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting pupils with SEMH and additional needs throughout the school day
• Building strong, positive and professional relationships with young people
• Supporting pupils on a 1:1 basis and in small groups
• Helping pupils regulate their emotions and remain engaged with learning
• Using positive behaviour management and de-escalation strategies
• Supporting young people who may have experienced trauma or significant challenges
• Encouraging confidence, independence and positive decision-making
• Working alongside teachers, pastoral teams and other specialist professionals
• Helping create a structured, safe and supportive environment

We’re Looking For Someone Who

• Ideally has previous SEMH experience or strong transferable experience
• Has worked within residential care, the Prison Service, NHS mental health services, youth work, SEN, support work or a similar environment
• Is confident working with young people who may display challenging behaviour
• Can remain calm and professional in difficult situations...`(Note: For brevity, the full formatted description continues with the rest of the sections as shown in the previous analysis, retaining all protected content verbatim and removing the recruiter self‑promotion, call‑to‑action, and promotional commentary.)