Specialist Youth Mentor / SEN Teaching Assistant Location: Preston (PR1) Salary: £95.00 - £125.00 per day Job Type: Full-time, Permanent / Long-term Contract Hours: Monday to Friday, 08:45 - 15:45 (Term Time) About the Role Are you a resilient individual with a background in youth work, sports coaching, or SEN support? We are looking for a confident Teaching Assistant / Youth Worker to join an Alternative Provision in Preston. You will be supporting children and young people (ages 11-16) who have been excluded from mainstream education. These students often display challenging behaviour and have complex Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Your goal is to provide stability, build trust, and help them engage with their learning in a non-traditional setting. Key Responsibilities: Manage and de-escalate challenging situations using professional, calm techniques. Act as a 1:1 mentor to help students navigate their emotions and social interactions. Support the delivery of a bespoke curriculum designed for students with SEN/SEMH. Work closely with the Senior Leadership Team to ensure a safe and positive environment for all. What we are looking for: Resilience: You must be able to handle verbal aggression and challenging physical behaviours without taking it personally. Experience: Previous experience working with vulnerable youth (Youth Clubs, PRUs, Residential Care, or SEN Schools). Strong Character: A firm but fair approach with the ability to build rapport quickly. Commitment: Reliable individuals who understand that consistency is vital for our students. Location: Based in or able to commute easily to Preston. Benefits: Competitive daily rate (£95-£125) paid weekly. Fixed school hours (08:45 - 15:45) providing an excellent work-life balance. The opportunity to make a genuine, life-changing impact on local Preston youth. Access to specialist training (e.g., Team-Teach, Safeguarding Level 2). Schedule: Day shift Monday to Friday No weekends Experience: Working with children/young people: 1 year (Preferred) Challenging behaviour: 1 year (Preferred) How to Apply Click 'Apply Now' to be considered for this position in Preston. For more information, contact the Tradewind Recruitment team today. For more information or to apply, please contact Christina Grindy on (phone number removed) or email (url removed)