Mental Health Support Assistant

Location: Ashington, Northumberland
Contract: Term-time only
Hours: 08:30 – 15:30, Monday – Friday
Start: September 2026

Are you passionate about supporting children and young people with their mental health and emotional wellbeing? Are you looking to gain hands-on experience in a specialist educational setting before pursuing a career in Psychology, Counselling, Mental Health Nursing, Social Work, Occupational Therapy or Education?

Milk Education is working in partnership with a fantastic specialist SEND provision in Ashington to appoint a Mental Health Support Assistant to join their dedicated, child-centred team.

About the School

This welcoming specialist provision supports pupils with Autism (ASD), Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, complex learning difficulties, sensory needs, speech and language needs, and behaviours that can become dysregulated.

The school is committed to creating a safe, therapeutic environment where every child feels understood, valued, and supported to reach their full potential.

They achieve this through:

• Specialist teaching tailored to individual learning and emotional needs.
• Close collaboration with therapists, external professionals, and families.
• A strong focus on emotional regulation, wellbeing, communication, and positive relationships.
• Trauma-informed and restorative approaches that help pupils develop confidence, resilience, and independence.

Joining this school means becoming part of a compassionate team dedicated to improving children’s lives every day.

Role: Mental Health Support Assistant

As a Mental Health Support Assistant, you’ll work alongside teachers, SEN practitioners, therapists, and pastoral staff to support pupils with their emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and engagement in learning.

You’ll play an important role in helping children develop emotional resilience, build trusting relationships, regulate their emotions, and feel safe within the school environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and pastoral support to pupils with SEMH, Autism, and additional needs.
• Build positive, trusting relationships that promote confidence, resilience, and self-esteem.
• Support pupils in managing emotions using positive behaviour support and de-escalation strategies.
• Assist with learning activities while encouraging engagement and independence.
• Support pupils during periods of emotional dysregulation using therapeutic and trauma-informed approaches.
• Work alongside teachers and therapists to implement individual support plans.
• Assist with personal care where required.
• Observe, record, and report on pupils’ emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and progress.
• Promote a safe, calm, and nurturing learning environment.

Essential Criteria

• Recent experience supporting children or adults with SEND, SEMH, Autism, mental health needs, or complex needs (education, care, youth work, or support work experience welcomed).
• Comfortable providing personal care where required.
• Calm, patient, empathetic, and emotionally resilient.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• A genuine passion for supporting children’s mental health, wellbeing, and personal development.

Why Work with Milk Education?

• Ideal experience for graduates aspiring to careers in Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, or Teaching.
• Ongoing support if you’re looking to secure a permanent school position.
• Free classroom resources to support your work.
• A dedicated consultant available whenever you need support.
• Access to CPD and specialist training to develop your skills.
• Proud to be an eco-friendly, purpose-driven agency committed to rewarding and valuing our staff.

If you’re ready to make a lasting impact by supporting children’s mental health, emotional wellbeing, and development, we’d love to hear from you.

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