Graduate SEMH TA - Launch Your Career

Graduate SEMH Teaching Assistant – Launch Your Career Supporting Young People

Flexible roles across East Manchester
Perfect for Psychology, Education, Criminology, Sociology & Youth Work Graduates

Are you finishing university soon and looking for a role that’s meaningful, challenging and genuinely rewarding? Do you want hands‑on experience that will build your confidence, strengthen your CV, and prepare you for careers in teaching, mental health, youth justice, educational psychology or social care?

Teaching Personnel are seeking graduates to support children and young people with SEMH needs across a range of mainstream schools, alternative provisions and specialist settings.

This is an excellent opportunity to step into the world of education and mental health support.

What Your Role Will Involve

As a Graduate SEMH Teaching Assistant, you will play a vital role in helping young people who face barriers to learning due to emotional, behavioural or mental health challenges. Your day could involve:

Supporting pupils directly

• Working 1:1 with students who need consistent emotional support
• Supporting small groups with learning, social skills or regulation activities
• Using positive behaviour strategies and trauma‑informed approaches
• Helping young people settle into routines, transitions and classroom expectations

Creating a safe, supportive environment

• Building relationships based on trust, patience and positivity
• Encouraging students to engage with learning, even on difficult days
• Modelling calm, supportive behaviour and promoting emotional wellbeing

Assisting teachers and SEND teams

• Working alongside class teachers, pastoral leads and behaviour mentors
• Helping adapt learning activities to meet individual needs
• Supporting safeguarding and behaviour plans

Gaining varied experience

• Working across specialist SEMH schools, PRUs, mainstream settings and inclusion units
• Experiencing different age groups, needs and school cultures
• Taking on day‑to‑day, short‑term and long‑term placements depending on your availability

Why Graduates Choose Teaching Personnel for SEMH Work

When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

Specialist SEMH guidance and support

• A consultant who understands SEMH provisions, behaviour support and alternative settings
• Coaching and preparation before each placement
• Honest communication and regular check‑ins

Training and professional development

• FREE CPD courses including:
• Trauma‑Informed Practice
• De‑Escalation & Behaviour Management
• Safeguarding
• Supporting Mental Health in Schools

Career pathways

This experience is invaluable for graduates aiming to progress into:

• Educational Psychology
• Clinical Psychology Assistant roles
• PGCE / Teacher Training
• SENCO & SEN support careers
• Youth Justice / Social Care
• Mental Health Support Roles (CAMHS, therapeutic settings, mentoring)

Practical benefits

• Competitive weekly pay
• Flexible schedules that fit around interviews, other work or post‑uni transitions
• Opportunities for long‑term roles and permanent school placements
• Work in settings that prioritise wellbeing, inclusion and strong pastoral values

Who We’re Looking For

We’d love to hear from you if you are:

A soon‑to‑be or recent graduate in:

• Psychology
• Education / Early Childhood Studies
• Social Sciences
• Criminology
• Sociology
• Youth Work
• Health & Social Care
• Sport (particularly coaching or development)

Someone who brings:

• A proactive, energetic and positive attitude
• Resilience, patience and emotional intelligence
• A genuine passion for helping young people overcome barriers
• Availability Monday–Friday, 8:30–3:30
• An Enhanced DBS (or willingness to apply)

Ready to Start Your Post‑Uni Journey?

If you want to build real‑world experience that makes a difference and opens doors to future career opportunities, this role is the perfect first step.

All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQ’s on the Teaching Personnel website for details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Teaching Personnel is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants.
We offer all our registered candidates FREE child protection and prevent duty training. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Full assistance provided.
For details of our privacy policy, please visit the Teaching Personnel website.