Mental Health Support Assistants

SEMH Support Staff | Horsham | Immediate Start & September 2026

Job title: SEMH support staff

Location: Horsham, West Sussex

Contract: Full-time, long-term and permanent

Salary: 22,000 – 27,000 per annum

Start date: Immediate start available, and September 2026

Agency: Teaching Personnel

Teaching Personnel is looking for Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) support staff for specialist provisions and mainstream schools with SEMH units across Horsham. We have roles available for an immediate start and for September 2026, and we need full-time professionals who bring empathy, resilience and real skill to some of the most meaningful work in education.

SEMH settings work with young people who have often experienced significant trauma, instability or adversity. The right support professional understands that behaviour is communication, and responds with consistency, patience and a genuine belief that every young person can make progress when they feel safe and understood.

What the role involves

• Building consistent, trusted relationships with pupils who have social, emotional and mental health needs.
• Supporting pupils in classroom settings and during pastoral or intervention sessions.
• Using restorative, trauma-informed and emotion-coaching approaches to support positive behaviour.
• Assisting with emotional regulation strategies, de-escalation and crisis support as needed.
• Working within a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
• Collaborating with teachers, pastoral leads, school counsellors and external agencies.
• Maintaining accurate records and following safeguarding and confidentiality procedures at all times.

What we are looking for

• Experience working with young people with SEMH, behavioural, emotional or mental health needs.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, restorative approaches or therapeutic support is a significant advantage.
• Emotionally intelligent, self-aware and able to regulate your own responses under pressure.
• Confident in de-escalation and positive behaviour management.
• Full-time availability across the school week, term-time.
• Enhanced DBS on the Update Service, or willingness to obtain one.

What you will gain

• Competitive full-time salary commensurate with experience (see above).
• Specialist training in SEMH, trauma-informed practice and mental health first aid.
• A dedicated Teaching Personnel consultant who takes time to find the right school for you.
• Immediate start roles available, alongside September 2026 placements.
• Long-term and permanent contract opportunities with schools that value and develop their staff.

Please apply now for further information.

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.