Aspiring Youth/Criminal/Social Justice Officer – Learning Support Assistant Hackney
SEMH School – Focus: Social Challenges, Emotional Regulation & Knife Crime Intervention
Start Date: September 2026

Are you a Criminology Graduate in Hackney seeking front-line experience before progressing into Forensic/Clinical Psychology, Youth Justice, or Mental Health Services? Want a role centred on early intervention, behaviour support, safeguarding, and knife crime prevention?

Milk Education is recruiting Criminology and Social Science graduates for a specialist SEMH school in Hackney.

The Role – SEN Learning Support Assistant

• Location: Hackney
• Pay: £108 per day
• Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30am–3:45pm (term time only)
• Start Date: September 2026
• Interviews & Trial Days: Commencing September 2026

This SEMH provision supports pupils with needs linked to trauma, ACEs, community violence, exploitation, and knife crime. Many present with challenging behaviour and difficulty forming trusting relationships. Ideal for calm, resilient graduates passionate about intervention and prevention.

Aspiring Youth/Criminal/Social Justice Officer – Learning Support Assistant Hackney – Education and Training - Aspiring Youth/Criminal/Social Justice Officer – Learning Support Assistant Hackney

Your Experience Will Include:

• Supporting emotional regulation, self-esteem, and pro-social behaviour
• Assisting with behaviour management and crisis de-escalation
• Restorative conversations, conflict resolution, and mentoring (1:1 and groups)
• Developing coping strategies, emotional literacy, and safer decision-making
• Exposure to trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, risk assessment, and contextual safeguarding
• Preventative work around knife crime, exploitation, peer pressure, and criminalisation

Excellent preparation for Forensic Psychology, Youth Justice, Probation, Social Work, Counselling, and Mental Health careers.

Aspiring Youth/Criminal/Social Justice Officer – Learning Support Assistant Hackney – Education and Training - Aspiring Youth/Criminal/Social Justice Officer – Learning Support Assistant Hackney

Why Milk Education?

• Free CPD: Trauma-Informed Practice, De-escalation, Safeguarding, Youth Mental Health, Restorative Practice
• Wellbeing: Counselling services and dedicated consultant support
• Benefits: Competitive pay, fast-track registration, flexible work, 5-star agency, free Milk Academy access to 1,000+ CPD courses, FREE wellbeing resources, 24/7 support, Unbottled lived-experience speakers, eco-friendly agency, national school network

We're Looking For:

• Graduates in Criminology, Psychology, Sociology, Youth & Community, or Social Science
• Aspiring Forensic Psychologists, Youth Justice, or Mental Health practitioners
• Passionate about early intervention, violence reduction, and safeguarding
• Calm, resilient, emotionally intelligent, comfortable supporting challenging behaviour
• Motivated to make a real impact in knife crime prevention and youth mental health

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.

Aspiring Youth/Criminal/Social Justice Officer – Learning Support Assistant Hackney – Education and Training - Aspiring Youth/Criminal/Social Justice Officer – Learning Support Assistant Hackney