At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable young people in a secondary school setting, helping them overcome barriers to learning.
- Company: Join a leading education agency dedicated to youth and social justice.
- Benefits: Earn £108 per day, enjoy flexible hours, and access exclusive discounts and training.
- Other info: Gain hands-on experience and develop essential skills for future roles in criminal justice.
- Why this job: Kickstart your career in criminal justice while making a real difference in young people's lives.
- Qualifications: Ideal for criminology, psychology, or sociology graduates with a passion for supporting youth.
The predicted salary is between 23000 - 27000 £ per year.
Starting September 2026! Pay: £108 per day. Location: Ealing. Start Date: September 2026 (flexible intake). Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 3:45 pm, 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 the criminal justice system? This Learning Support Assistant position is an ideal opportunity to gain substantial hands-on experience working with vulnerable young people in a secondary school and alternative provision setting in Ealing. 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.
The school and its alternative provision provide a structured, supportive, and restorative environment for young people who have struggled in mainstream education. By utilising trauma-informed practices and positive behaviour management strategies, the team supports pupils in re-engaging with education, developing pro-social skills, and building pathways toward positive futures. This role offers an excellent foundation for graduates aiming to progress into youth justice, probation, policing, social work, forensic psychology, or wider criminal justice roles.
The Role – A Stepping Stone into Criminal and Social Justice
Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are proudly APSCo Compliance+ accredited, reflecting our dedication to the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to thorough compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and APSCo guidelines.
This Learning Support Assistant role within a secondary school and alternative provision offers the opportunity to:
- Gain In-Depth Experience: Support vulnerable young people on both an individual and small-group basis, developing a profound understanding of the factors that lead to offending behaviour, including adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), SEMH needs, and behavioural challenges.
- Apply Restorative and Behavioural Principles: Observe and participate in the application of restorative justice approaches, de-escalation techniques, and positive behaviour support strategies used to manage conflict and repair relationships.
- Work with a Multi-Agency Team: Collaborate closely with teachers, pastoral staff, SENCOs, and external agencies such as social care and youth offending teams (YOTs), gaining insight into holistic interventions and the multi-agency approach central to criminal justice.
- Build Core Professional Skills: Develop essential skills for a career in the criminal justice system, including rapport-building with hard-to-reach young people, boundary setting, risk assessment, reflective practice, and professional report writing.
- Make a Real Difference: Have a meaningful impact on young people’s life chances by supporting their personal development, reducing barriers to education, and helping to steer them away from involvement in the justice system.
A Focus on Youth & Social Justice: Engaging Autistic Young People in the Community
This role offers a unique and powerful opportunity to explore the intersection of neurodiversity, social justice, and offending behaviour. Autistic children and young people are disproportionately vulnerable to criminalisation and social exclusion, often due to misunderstandings around their communication styles, sensory needs, and social interactions being misinterpreted as challenging or oppositional behaviour.
As a Learning Support Assistant in Ealing, you will play a crucial role in breaking this cycle. You will:
- Champion Neuro-Inclusive Practice: Learn to identify and support the specific needs of autistic young people, using tailored communication strategies, sensory regulation techniques, and predictable routines to create a safe, accessible learning environment. This directly reduces the risk of conflict and exclusion.
- Bridge the Gap Between Education and Community: Work with young people to develop essential life and social skills that empower them to navigate their community safely and successfully. By building their confidence and self-advocacy, you help prevent the social isolation that can make them targets for exploitation or lead to disengagement from society.
- Apply a Social Justice Lens: Understand how systemic barriers, diagnostic delays, and a lack of appropriate support can push autistic young people toward the margins. Your work will be rooted in the principle that every young person deserves a fair chance, and that true justice means addressing underlying needs rather than simply punishing behaviour.
- Build Trusting Relationships: Develop the patience and empathy needed to connect with young people who may have had negative experiences with authority figures. By offering consistent, unconditional positive regard, you can become a trusted adult who helps them see a different path forward.
- Influence Future Practice: The insights you gain from this frontline role will be invaluable for your future career in the criminal justice system, probation, or social work, equipping you with a deep, practical understanding of neurodiversity and its critical importance in fair and effective interventions.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- A strong academic background in criminology, psychology, sociology, or a related discipline, with a clear interest in the criminal justice system, offending behaviour, or social care.
- Previous experience supporting children or young people, particularly those with challenging behaviour, SEMH needs, or autism (desirable but not essential; passion and the right attitude are key).
- A resilient, patient, and empathetic approach, with the ability to remain calm in challenging situations.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusting relationships with young people who may be disengaged or mistrustful of authority.
- A genuine commitment to helping young people make positive changes and access better opportunities.
- A proactive, reflective attitude and a willingness to learn within a specialist setting.
This role is more than just a job; it is a valuable stepping stone for aspiring criminal justice professionals and allied practitioners, providing practical, front-line experience that directly supports your long-term professional development and future applications.
Benefits to YOU
- Excellent rates of pay – £108 per day.
- Speedy registration process with fast-track compliance.
- Flexible working days and hours to suit your schedule (term time only).
- 5-star rated agency with over 3,000 reviews across Google and Facebook.
- Exclusive partnerships with schools and trusts in the Ealing area.
- FREE access to our Perks Portal, offering discounts similar to the Blue Light Card.
- Access to 1,000+ accredited and discounted CPD courses through Milk Academy.
- FREE PSHE lesson plans and classroom resources, created by qualified teachers.
- FREE Educator Wellbeing eBook and access to our wellbeing hub, including CPD and fitness modules.
- School Preparation Pack to support you ahead of your placements.
- 24/7 support from your dedicated personal consultant.
- Access to our Unbottled programme, bringing lived-experience speakers into schools to cover topics such as mental health, discrimination, and exploitation.
- Join the UK’s only eco-friendly education supply agency.
Ready to take the next step in your criminal justice career?
Aspiring Criminal Justice Officer – Learning Support Assistant Ealing in London 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 – Learning Support Assistant Ealing in London
✨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 – Learning Support Assistant Ealing in London
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.
