At a Glance
- Tasks: Support students with emotional regulation and behaviour management in a specialist SEMH school.
- Company: Join Milk Education, an eco-friendly agency focused on wellbeing and professional development.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible hours, free CPD courses, and 24/7 consultant support.
- Other info: Outstanding preparation for careers in Forensic Psychology, Youth Justice, and Mental Health Services.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in youth mental health and knife crime prevention while gaining valuable experience.
- Qualifications: Criminology or Social Science graduates passionate about early intervention and safeguarding.
The predicted salary is between 22500 - 27500 £ per year.
SEN Teaching Assistant – Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) School
Focus: Social Challenges, Emotional Regulation & Knife Crime Intervention
Start Date: September 2026
Location: Camberwell
Pay: £109 per day
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am–3:45pm (term time only)
Are you a Criminology Graduate in Camberwell looking to gain meaningful, front-line experience before progressing into Forensic Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Youth Justice, or Mental Health Services? Do you want a role that places you at the centre of early intervention, behaviour support, safeguarding, and knife crime prevention?
Milk Education, a wellbeing-led and eco-friendly education agency, is recruiting Criminology and Social Science graduates to join a specialist SEMH school in Camberwell.
The Role: SEN Teaching Assistant
This specialist SEMH provision supports pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs, often linked to trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), community violence, exploitation, and knife crime exposure. Many pupils present with challenging behaviour, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties forming safe, trusting relationships.
This role is ideal for graduates who are calm, resilient, reflective, and motivated to work in high-impact intervention and prevention settings.
Your Experience Will Include:
- Supporting pupils with emotional regulation, self-esteem, and pro-social behaviour
- Assisting staff with behaviour management and crisis de-escalation
- Supporting restorative conversations, consequences, and conflict resolution
- Working 1:1 and in small groups on mentoring and intervention programmes
- Helping pupils develop coping strategies, emotional literacy, and safer decision-making
- Gaining exposure to trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, risk assessment, and contextual safeguarding
- Supporting preventative work around knife crime, exploitation, peer pressure, and criminalisation
This role provides outstanding preparation for careers in Forensic Psychology, Youth Justice, Probation, Social Work, Counselling Psychology, and Mental Health Services.
Understanding SEMH in This Setting
SEMH needs are often rooted in complex social and environmental factors, including poverty, family breakdown, community violence, and involvement with the criminal justice system. In this role, you’ll learn how to build consistent, trusting relationships, challenge behaviour safely, and support young people to re-engage positively with education and society.
Why Join Milk Education?
Training & CPD
- Free CPD including Trauma-Informed Practice, Behaviour De-escalation, Safeguarding, Youth Mental Health, Contextual Safeguarding, and Restorative Practice
- Career-focused development aligned with criminology, forensic psychology, and youth justice pathways
Wellbeing & Ongoing Support
- Access to a mental health and wellbeing platform, including counselling services
- A dedicated consultant committed to your professional and personal development
Benefits for You
- Competitive daily pay
- Fast-track registration and compliance
- Flexible working opportunities
- 5-star rated agency with over 3,000 reviews
- Free access to Milk Academy with 1,000+ discounted, accredited CPD courses
- FREE wellbeing resources, PSHE materials, and school preparation packs
- 24/7 consultant support
- Access to Unbottled, bringing lived-experience speakers into schools
- Work with the UK’s only eco-friendly education supply agency
- A nationwide network of schools and trusts
Who We’re Looking For:
- Criminology, Psychology, Sociology, Youth & Community, or Social Science graduates
- Aspiring Forensic Psychologists, Youth Justice professionals, or Mental Health practitioners
- Individuals passionate about early intervention, violence reduction, and safeguarding
- Calm, resilient, and emotionally intelligent candidates
- Graduates comfortable supporting challenging behaviour and high-risk pupils
- People motivated to make a genuine impact in knife crime prevention and youth mental health
Safeguarding Commitment
Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are APSCo Compliance+ accredited, meeting the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education and APSCo guidelines.
Milk Education is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. By applying, you agree to our Privacy Policy, available on our website. Milk Education is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.
Aspiring Criminal Justice Officer – Teaching Assistant – Camberwell employer: Milk Education
Milk Education is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and development of its employees, offering a vibrant work culture in the heart of Liverpool. With significant progression pathways, generous incentives, and a supportive environment, we empower our team to thrive in their careers while enjoying a healthy work-life balance with 23 days off annually plus bank holidays.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Aspiring Criminal Justice Officer – Teaching Assistant – Camberwell
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Milk Education.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Milk Education!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Milk Education, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Milk Education or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Aspiring Criminal Justice Officer – Teaching Assistant – Camberwell
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Milk Education:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Milk Education! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Milk Education
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
