semh teaching assistant.

£90 - £95 per day

Bury St Edmunds

Are you an exceptionally resilient, patient, and highly skilled Teaching Assistant (TA) or support professional ready to dedicate your expertise to a specialist setting focused on Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs?

Do you thrive on the challenge of supporting young people who exhibit challenging behaviour, anxiety, attachment difficulties, or complex trauma, and possess the therapeutic strategies and consistency required to facilitate self-regulation and emotional growth?

We are seeking a proactive, empathetic, and committed individual to join a highly supportive, dedicated, and specialised provision near Bury St Edmunds. If you are passionate about providing structured support, clear boundaries, and nurturing guidance to help vulnerable students access education, we want to hear from you.

The Opportunity

A critical and immensely rewarding opening exists for an experienced TA to work within a well-regarded, specialist provision (either an alternative provision or a dedicated SEMH school) near Bury St Edmunds, focusing on secondary-aged learners. This role involves supporting pupils who have significant Social, Emotional, and Mental Health challenges, often alongside:

• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) / Trauma
• Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)
• Attachment Needs (e.g., DDP)
• High levels of anxiety and low self-esteem

Your contribution will be central to helping students:

• Manage crises and de-escalate challenging situations effectively.
• Develop self-regulation skills and positive coping mechanisms.
• Re-engage with the curriculum and rebuild trust in education and adults.

You will be instrumental in creating a calm, consistent, and therapeutically informed environment, often supporting pupils on a 1:1 or small group basis within an adapted curriculum setting.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide tailored, direct support to named pupils, meticulously implementing their Individual Risk Assessments, Behaviour Plans, and Pastoral Targets.
• Proactively utilise de-escalation techniques and positive handling strategies (ideally Team Teach/MAPA trained, or willingness to train) to manage heightened emotional states and challenging behaviour effectively and safely.
• Act as a consistent and reliable key worker, building trusting therapeutic relationships and helping students navigate challenging emotions and transitions.
• Facilitate small group interventions focused on Social Skills, Emotional Literacy, Anger Management, and Self-Esteem.
• Assist the teacher in adapting and differentiating the curriculum to reduce barriers to learning caused by anxiety or behavioural needs, promoting accessibility and engagement.
• Accompany and supervise students during breaks, transitions, and external activities, ensuring safety and reinforcing positive social interactions.
• Maintain accurate, professional records of incidents, behaviour logs, emotional needs, and intervention progress for professional discussions and statutory reviews.
• Collaborate effectively with the teaching staff, the SENCO, external CAMHS, and pastoral leadership to ensure a holistic, multi-agency approach to student well-being.

Essential Profile

• Previous, demonstrable experience supporting young people (ideally secondary age) with significant Social, Emotional, and Mental Health needs and challenging behaviour.
• A proven track record of successfully using and implementing positive behaviour support strategies and therapeutic boundaries (training in Team Teach, MAPA, or similar desirable).
• A genuine understanding of the impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences on behaviour and learning (trauma-informed practice).
• High levels of emotional intelligence, resilience, and patience, with an ability to remain calm and consistent during crisis situations.
• Familiarity with de-escalation techniques, and the ability to maintain professional distance while offering high levels of empathy.
• Excellent communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate clearly and calmly with distressed young people, parents, and professional agencies.
• Possession of an Enhanced Child DBS on the update service (or willingness to complete one promptly).

Benefits of Joining Us

• A competitive daily pay rate of £90 - £95, reflective of your specialist behavioural and pastoral experience.
• The opportunity to work in a specialised provision near Bury St Edmunds that prioritises staff support, reflective practice, and high-quality supervision.
• Access to specialist, accredited training in areas such as Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Attachment Theory, and specific SEMH intervention programmes.
• A profoundly rewarding role where you will directly contribute to transforming students' engagement with education and their emotional futures.
• £300 Refer A Friend scheme (terms apply).

How to Apply

If you are a dedicated and supportive individual ready to make a difference in a school setting, please apply immediately with your CV or contact Neeraj at neeraj.kommaravalli@randstad.co.uk for more information.

We are the UK market leader for recruitment in education. We have nearly two decades of experience helping teachers and support staff find temporary and permanent roles in schools, colleges, and nurseries. We partner with over 2,500 schools each week, supporting more than 135,000 children every day across the country, which allows us to find the right match for your skills.