Student Support Mentor – Alternative Provision (Secondary AP Unit)
Location: Wandsworth
Pay: £108 per day
Start Date: June 1st or September 2026
Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, term time only
Student Support Mentor – Wandsworth – Education and Training
Are you a Psychology or Social Science graduate looking to understand how vulnerable young people become involved in criminal exploitation, gangs, and harmful online ideologies? Do you want to work at the sharp end of youth intervention – inside an Alternative Provision setting where county lines and manosphere influence are real, daily challenges?
Milk Education – a wellbeing-led and eco-friendly agency – is recruiting passionate graduates to work within an Alternative Provision (AP) unit inside a secondary school in Wandsworth. In this Student Support Mentor role, you will support pupils who have been excluded or are at risk of exclusion, helping them navigate exploitation, ideological influence, and re‑engage with education.
The Role: Student Support Mentor – Alternative Provision (Secondary)
This AP unit supports students who struggle to access mainstream education. Many are involved in or at risk of county lines, criminal exploitation, gang association, and have been exposed to manosphere content (online misogyny, toxic masculinity, incel culture, radicalisation). These pupils often present with:
* Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) needs
* Trauma, neglect, or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
* County lines involvement – criminal exploitation, cuckooing, money mules, debt bondage
* Manosphere influence – Andrew Tate–style ideology, anti‑authority attitudes, extreme misogyny
* Emotionally driven, aggressive, or controlling behaviour
* Persistent absence, exclusion history, or dual vulnerability (victim and perpetrator)
* Resistance to female staff or authority figures
* Chaotic home lives with safeguarding concerns
You will work closely with pastoral leads, behaviour hubs, safeguarding teams, and external youth offending services to disrupt exploitation pathways and challenge harmful ideologies.
Your Experience Will Include:
* 1:1 mentoring focusing on county lines awareness, grooming signs, and safety planning
* Challenging manosphere narratives through critical thinking and relational practice
* Supporting emotional regulation, de‑escalation, and pro‑social identity building
* Rebuilding trust with adults after experiences of exploitation or exclusion
* Implementing personalised behaviour and safety plans
* Using trauma‑informed, restorative, and gender‑aware approaches
* Working alongside police, youth workers, and early intervention teams
* Helping students re‑engage with learning, attendance, and future pathways
This role is exceptional experience for graduates considering careers in Forensic Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Youth Justice, Criminal Exploitation, Social Work, or Gang Intervention.
Why This Role Is Valuable Experience for a Graduate
You will develop:
* Deep understanding of county lines – how grooming, control, and debt work
* Awareness of the manosphere and its impact on school culture and safeguarding
* Skills in mentoring high‑risk, justice‑involved, or ideologically vulnerable youth
* Practical experience in Alternative Provision – the most challenging but rewarding educational setting
* Knowledge of multi‑agency work (schools, police, social care, youth offending)
Why Join Milk Education?
Training & CPD (Including specialist modules)
* Free CPD: County Lines & Criminal Exploitation, Manosphere Awareness, Trauma‑Informed Practice, Behaviour & De‑escalation, Safeguarding
* Career‑focused development aligned with forensic and clinical psychology pathways
Wellbeing & Support
* Access to a mental health and wellbeing platform (including counselling)
* A dedicated consultant who understands your long‑term career goals
Benefits for You
* Competitive daily pay (£108 per day)
* Fast‑track registration and compliance
* Term‑time only schedule
* 5‑star rated agency with 3,000+ reviews
* Free access to Milk Academy (1,000+ discounted CPD courses)
* FREE wellbeing resources and school preparation materials
* 24/7 consultant support
* Work with the UK’s only eco‑friendly education supply agency
* Nationwide network of schools and trusts
Who We’re Looking For
* Graduates in Psychology, Social Sciences, Criminology, or related fields
* Aspiring Forensic Psychologists, Youth Justice Officers, Exploitation Lead Workers, or Social Workers
* Calm, resilient, and non‑judgemental individuals
* People who understand that behind the behaviour is often a victim
* Those motivated to work with the UK’s most vulnerable young people
* Confidence in challenging harmful ideologies while building trust
Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are proudly APSCo Compliance+ accredited. All applicants will be subject to thorough compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and APSCo guidelines.
#J-18808-Ljbffr