At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable young people, advocate for autistic students, and apply restorative justice principles.
- Company: Join a supportive educational environment focused on youth justice.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, full training, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Gain hands-on experience in a dynamic school setting with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives and launch your career in youth justice.
- Qualifications: Degree in criminology, psychology, or sociology; understanding of autism is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 21600 - 28800 £ per year.
Trials start: July 2026 | Long-term placements start: September 2026
Pay: £108 per day
Location: Haringey
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 3:45pm, term time only
Training: Full education, training, and CPD provided
Are you a criminology, psychology, or sociology graduate looking for the perfect role to launch your career in youth justice? This Learning Support Assistant position in Haringey is an ideal opportunity to gain substantial hands-on experience working with vulnerable young people, including autistic students, in a secondary school and alternative provision setting.
You will be supporting students who face complex barriers to learning, including social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, challenging behaviour, and involvement with the criminal justice system. A key part of this role is advocating for autistic students - ensuring their communication styles, sensory needs, and distress behaviours are understood as needs, not offences.
Why this role is ideal for an Aspiring Youth Justice Officer:
- Advocate for autistic students - ensuring reasonable adjustments, sensory breaks, and communication supports are in place before behaviour is misinterpreted as non-compliant or confrontational.
- Understand how unmet autism-related needs can elevate into criminalised behaviour, especially when young people are unable to self-advocate or become overwhelmed.
- Gain in-depth experience supporting vulnerable young people on an individual and small-group basis, developing an understanding of the factors leading to youth offending, including ACEs, SEMH needs, and undiagnosed or unsupported autism.
- Apply restorative and behavioural principles - observing and participating in restorative justice approaches, de-escalation techniques, and positive behaviour support strategies.
- Work with a multi-agency team, including teachers, pastoral staff, SENCOs, social care, and youth offending teams (YOTs), while actively championing the needs of autistic students within those discussions.
- Build core professional skills for youth justice, including rapport-building with hard-to-reach young people, boundary setting, risk assessment, reflective practice, and professional report writing - with a specialist focus on neurodiversity-informed practice.
- Make a real difference by supporting young people's personal development, reducing barriers to education, and helping steer them away from the justice system through early advocacy and understanding.
Candidate profile:
- A strong academic background in criminology, psychology, sociology, or a related discipline, with a clear interest in youth justice, offending behaviour, or social care.
- An understanding of autism and neurodiversity - and a willingness to advocate for autistic students in educational and behavioural settings.
- Previous experience supporting children or young people, particularly those with challenging behaviour, SEMH needs, or autism (desirable but not essential).
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Aspiring Youth Justice Officer - Learning Support Assistant Haringey in London
✨Get Involved with Local Charities
Get hands-on experience by volunteering with local charities or organisations in your area. This not only helps you build practical skills but also gets you noticed by potential placements like those at AMA Admin. Plus, they often have insider info on who’s hiring!
✨Join Student and Professional Networks
Tap into student networks and professional bodies related to social work. Attend events or workshops they organise, as this is a great way to meet people in the field and make valuable connections that could lead to placements at places like AMA Admin.
✨Showcase Your Passion Online
Start a blog or a social media page dedicated to social work topics. Share your thoughts on relevant issues or spotlight local projects you're involved in. This helps build your visibility and shows that you’re passionate, which placement providers like AMA Admin will definitely notice!
✨Stay Ahead with Applications
Many social work placements have specific application windows, so keep an eye on these and prepare early. Use university career services to refine your approach and research organisations like AMA Admin that align with your values and aspirations!
We think you need these skills to ace Aspiring Youth Justice Officer - Learning Support Assistant Haringey in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Empathy Skills:In social work, empathy isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the heart of the profession! Use your cover letter to highlight specific experiences where you've demonstrated compassion and understanding. Whether it's through volunteer work, previous placements, or even personal experiences, make sure AMA Admin sees your human side.
Tailor Your CV to Highlight Relevant Experiences:When crafting your CV, focus on your relevant experiences in social work or related fields. Include any placements, volunteering, or coursework that showcase your understanding of social issues. Don’t forget to mention any specific training or certifications you've acquired – it’s these details that’ll catch AMA Admin's attention!
Express Your Passion for Learning:Since this is a placement, show us how eager you are to learn and grow in the field of social work. In your cover letter, talk about why you chose social work as a career. This is your chance to convey your enthusiasm for making a difference and your commitment to developing your skills on the job.
Include Real-World Examples:When discussing your skills and experiences, try to include concrete examples that demonstrate your problem-solving abilities and teamwork. Whether it’s a group project from your studies, a case study you’ve worked on, or even life experiences, make those details shine in your application to show how you'd fit into the AMA Admin team!
How to prepare for a job interview at AMA Admin
✨Show Your Passion for Helping Others
When it comes to social work placements, it's all about demonstrating your commitment to making a difference. Be ready to share personal stories or experiences that highlight your motivation for joining this field. We want to see that you've got that genuine passion and empathy that makes a great social worker.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your problem-solving abilities and ethical judgement. They might ask how you’d handle a challenging client or navigate a sensitive situation, so think through your responses and be ready to show how you can apply your knowledge in real-life contexts. It’s a good idea to review common case studies in social work to get into the right mindset.
✨Know Your Theories
Brush up on the key social work theories and frameworks that underpin practice. Being able to reference these during your interview can really impress your interviewers at AMA Admin. We suggest relating them to your own understanding of situations, showing you're ready to apply theory to practice.
✨Emphasise Your Willingness to Learn
Since this is a placement, your potential for growth is just as important as your current skills. Make sure to express your eagerness to learn from experienced professionals and your openness to feedback. Discuss how you plan to develop during your time at AMA Admin and how that aligns with your career goals in social work.
