CRIMINOLOGY GRADUATE – ASPIRING CLINICAL / FORENSIC / EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Brent | SEN School Experience | Education & Training

Pay £108 per day
Start Date September 2026
Hours Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 3:45 PM (Term Time Only)
Location Brent (excellent transport links + on-site parking)
Contract Full-time, Long-term role
Interviews & Trial Days September 7th and 14th

SEN TEACHING ASSISTANT – SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL & MENTAL HEALTH (SEMH) SCHOOL

Focus: Social Challenges, Emotional Regulation & Knife Crime Intervention

Are you a Criminology Graduate in Brent looking to gain meaningful, front-line experience before progressing into Forensic Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Youth Justice, or Mental Health Services?

Do you want a role that places you at the centre of early intervention, behaviour support, safeguarding, and knife crime prevention?

Milk Education, a wellbeing-led and eco-friendly education agency, is recruiting Criminology and Social Science graduates to join a specialist SEMH school in Brent.

THE ROLE: SEN LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT

This specialist SEMH provision supports pupils with social, emotional, and mental health needs, often linked to trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), community violence, exploitation, and knife crime exposure. Many pupils present with challenging behaviour, emotional dysregulation, and difficulties forming safe, trusting relationships.

This role is ideal for graduates who are calm, resilient, reflective, and motivated to work in high-impact intervention and prevention settings.

KNIFE CRIME INTERVENTION & PREVENTION

Brent, like many London boroughs, faces significant challenges with knife crime and youth violence. This role places you at the forefront of preventative intervention, working directly with young people who are at risk of involvement in serious youth violence, criminal exploitation, and gang affiliation.

In this role, you will be involved in:

• Delivering early intervention programmes that address the root causes of knife crime, including poverty, trauma, and social exclusion

• Supporting pupils to develop conflict resolution skills and alternative coping strategies to violence

• Working with pupils to build emotional literacy and self-regulation, reducing the likelihood of reactive aggression

• Facilitating restorative justice conversations that address harm and promote accountability

• Supporting mentoring and diversionary activities that keep young people engaged in education and away from criminal networks

• Contributing to contextual safeguarding approaches that consider the risks young people face outside of school, including in their communities and online

• Collaborating with youth offending teams, police, and community organisations to provide joined-up support for vulnerable young people

Why this experience is invaluable for your career:

• Gain first-hand understanding of the pathways into and out of serious youth violence

• Develop skills in risk assessment, safeguarding, and intervention planning

• Build the practical experience needed for careers in Forensic Psychology, Youth Justice, Probation, and Criminal Justice

• Understand how trauma-informed practice and relational approaches can disrupt cycles of violence and criminalisation

YOUR EXPERIENCE WILL INCLUDE

• Supporting pupils with emotional regulation, self-esteem, and pro-social behaviour

• Assisting staff with behaviour management and crisis de-escalation

• Supporting restorative conversations, consequences, and conflict resolution

• Working 1:1 and in small groups on mentoring and intervention programmes

• Helping pupils develop coping strategies, emotional literacy, and safer decision-making

• Gaining exposure to trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, risk assessment, and contextual safeguarding

• Supporting preventative work around knife crime, exploitation, peer pressure, and criminalisation

This role provides outstanding preparation for careers in Forensic Psychology, Youth Justice, Probation, Social Work, Counselling Psychology, and Mental Health Services.

UNDERSTANDING SEMH IN THIS SETTING

SEMH needs are often rooted in complex social and environmental factors, including poverty, family breakdown, community violence, and involvement with the criminal justice system.

In this role, you will learn how to build consistent, trusting relationships, challenge behaviour safely, and support young people to re-engage positively with education and society.

WHY JOIN MILK EDUCATION?

Training & CPD

• Free CPD including Trauma-Informed Practice, Behaviour De-escalation, Safeguarding, Youth Mental Health, Contextual Safeguarding, and Restorative Practice

• Career-focused development aligned with criminology, forensic psychology, and youth justice pathways

Wellbeing & Ongoing Support

• Access to a mental health and wellbeing platform, including counselling services

• A dedicated consultant committed to your professional and personal development

BENEFITS FOR YOU

• Competitive daily pay – £108 per day

• Full-time, long-term role – Monday to Friday, term time only

• Fast-track registration and compliance

• Flexible working opportunities

• 5-star rated agency with over 3,000 reviews

• Free access to Milk Academy with 1,000+ accredited CPD courses

• FREE wellbeing resources, PSHE materials, and school preparation packs

• 24/7 consultant support

• Access to Unbottled – lived-experience speakers in schools

• Work with the UK's only eco-friendly education supply agency

• A nationwide network of schools and trusts

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• Criminology, Psychology, Sociology, Youth and Community, or Social Science graduates

• Aspiring Forensic Psychologists, Youth Justice professionals, or Mental Health practitioners

• Individuals passionate about early intervention, violence reduction, and safeguarding

• Calm, resilient, and emotionally intelligent candidates

• Graduates comfortable supporting challenging behaviour and high-risk pupils

• People motivated to make a genuine impact in knife crime prevention and youth mental health

SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT

Milk Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We are APSCo Compliance+ accredited, meeting the highest standards in safer recruitment. All applicants will be subject to compliance checks in line with DfE, Keeping Children Safe in Education, and APSCo guidelines.

Milk Education is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying, you agree to our Privacy Policy, available on our website. Milk Education is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.