Aspiring Criminal Justice Officer – Southend (SEN Teaching Assistant – SEMH School)
Are you a Criminology Graduate in Southend looking to gain meaningful, front-line experience before progressing into Criminal Justice, Youth Justice, Probation, 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 Southend.
The Role: SEN Learning Support Assistant
Location: Southend
Pay: £101.40 per day
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am–3:45pm (term time only)
Start Dates: June 2026 & September 2026
Interviews & Trial Days: May–June 2026 (for June start) / July–August 2026 (for September start)
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 Criminal Justice, 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 criminal justice, youth justice, and safeguarding 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 Criminal Justice professionals, Youth Justice practitioners, or Mental Health workers
* 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
#J-18808-Ljbffr