SEMH Teaching Assistant - Ideal for Ex-Military, Coaches, Youth Workers & Creative Professionals Croydon / Bromley Location: Croydon Start Date: ASAP / February Half Term Contract: Full-time or Part-time | Long-term (with some short-term options) Salary: Competitive, based on experience Use your real-world skills where they matter most If you've worked in the armed forces, coaching, youth or community work, or the creative industries (acting, music, arts, performance), this role offers a clear path into meaningful, long-term work supporting young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. We're working with established SEN Trusts across Croydon, Bromley and South East London who value presence, structure, consistency, and emotional intelligence just as much as formal classroom experience. This is not a passive support role. It's about leading by example, holding boundaries, reading situations quickly, and building trust with young people who often respond best to strong, authentic adults. Why Your Background Fits This Role Ex-Military & Uniformed Services Strong sense of structure, routine, and accountability Calm under pressure and confident in high-stress situations Experience leading, mentoring, and supporting others Natural authority combined with discipline and fairness Sports Coaches Used to motivating individuals and teams Skilled in behaviour management, boundaries, and consistency Experience working with young people who struggle with regulation Ability to model resilience, teamwork, and self-control Youth & Community Workers Experienced in trauma-informed approaches Confident supporting challenging behaviour Strong relationship-building and de-escalation skills Comfortable working with complex emotional needs Actors, Musicians & Artists High emotional intelligence and awareness Strong communication and presence Ability to engage, inspire, and redirect behaviour creatively Experience working with emotions, identity, and self-expression The Role You'll support pupils across Primary and Secondary settings with needs including SEMH, complex mental health challenges, ADHD, and ASD. Each school environment is different, and we carefully match you to a setting where your personality, strengths, and experience will have the greatest impact. Trusts use clear behaviour frameworks with a strong focus on de-escalation, consistency, and relationship-based practice. What We're Looking For Experience supporting or working with young people or vulnerable individuals (Education experience is helpful but not essential) Confidence managing challenging behaviour in a calm, controlled way A steady, reliable presence who can hold boundaries Empathy, patience, and emotional resilience An Enhanced DBS on the Update Service (We can support this process if required) A genuine desire to make a long-term difference Why Join These Trusts? Strong leadership and supportive teams Structured environments with clear expectations Ongoing training and CPD (including PRICE / Team Teach ) Opportunities to progress into permanent roles Work that is demanding, purposeful, and genuinely rewarding Interested? If you're looking to transfer your real-world experience into a role with meaning and stability, this could be the right move. Apply today to work in a setting where who you are and how you show up matters. Get in touch by emailing