Psychology Graduate - Aspiring Clinical / Educational Psychologist Islington

Job Title: Psychology Graduate - Aspiring Clinical / Educational Psychologist Islington
Role: SEN Teaching Assistant - Social, Emotional & Mental Health (SEMH) School
Focus: Trauma-Informed Support, Emotional Regulation & Behavioural Intervention
Start Date: September 2026
Location: Islington
Pay: £101.40 per day
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am-3:45pm (Term Time Only)
Interviews & Trial Days: July-August 2026

Are you a Psychology Graduate looking to build meaningful, front-line experience before pursuing Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Counselling, or Mental Health Services?

Do you want to apply your knowledge of developmental psychology, attachment theory, and neurodiversity in a setting that makes a tangible difference to vulnerable young people?

Milk Education - a wellbeing-led and eco-friendly education agency - is seeking passionate Psychology and Social Science graduates to join a specialist SEMH school in Islington.

The Role: SEN Learning Support Assistant

This specialist provision supports pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs, often stemming from trauma, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), attachment disruptions, and community-based adversities. Many pupils present with behavioural challenges, emotional dysregulation, and difficulty forming trusting relationships.

This role is ideal for psychology graduates who are emotionally intelligent, reflective, resilient, and eager to work in high-impact intervention settings where theory meets practice.

Your Experience Will Include:

• Supporting pupils with emotional regulation, self-esteem, and pro-social behaviour using psychologically-informed strategies
• Assisting staff with behaviour management and crisis de-escalation techniques
• Helping facilitate restorative conversations and reflective conflict resolution
• Working 1:1 and in small groups on mentoring, intervention, and therapeutic programmes
• Helping pupils develop coping strategies, emotional literacy, and safer decision-making skills
• Gaining exposure to trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and risk assessment
• Observing and recording behavioural and emotional patterns to support multi-agency assessments
• Understanding the psychological impact of systemic factors such as poverty, family breakdown, community violence, and exposure to criminality

This role provides outstanding preparation for careers in Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Counselling, Play Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy, and Mental Health Support Teams (MHSTs) .

Understanding SEMH Through a Psychological Lens

SEMH needs are often rooted in complex interplay between developmental trauma, attachment styles, neurodivergence (including ADHD and Autism), and environmental stressors.

In this role, you will learn how to:

• Build consistent, trusting relationships grounded in attachment theory
• Support pupils to co-regulate and develop emotional intelligence
• Use behaviour as communication to inform interventions
• Help young people re-engage positively with education and social environments

Why Join Milk Education? Training & CPD (Included):

• Free CPD in: Trauma-Informed Practice, Behaviour De-escalation, Safeguarding, Youth Mental Health First Aid, Attachment & Developmental Trauma, ADHD & Autism Awareness, and Restorative Practice
• Career-focused development aligned with clinical, educational, and counselling psychology 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 (£101.40)
• 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+ discounted, accredited CPD courses
• FREE wellbeing resources, PSHE materials, and school preparation packs
• 24/7 consultant support
• Access to Unbottled - bringing lived-experience speakers into schools
• Work with the UK's only eco-friendly education supply agency
• A nationwide network of schools and trusts

Who We're Looking For:

• Psychology, Counselling, Developmental Psychology, or Social Science graduates
• Aspiring Clinical Psychologists, Educational Psychologists, Counsellors, or Mental Health practitioners
• Individuals passionate about early intervention, wellbeing, and safeguarding
• Calm, resilient, and emotionally intelligent candidates
• Graduates comfortable supporting challenging behaviour and emotionally complex pupils
• People motivated to make a genuine impact in youth mental health and violence prevention

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.