SEMH Mentor

Do you have the patience and emotional awareness to support children who may struggle with their behaviour, relationships, confidence or emotional wellbeing? Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity where you can help children develop the tools they need to manage challenges and engage more positively with school?

A specialist school in Oxford, Oxfordshire is seeking a dedicated SEMH Mentor to provide targeted support to children aged 5-16 with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. This role is focused on building positive relationships, understanding individual needs and helping children develop practical strategies to manage their emotions and behaviour.

As an SEMH Mentor, you will become an important source of consistency and encouragement for children who may find certain aspects of school life challenging. You will work with children on an individual and small-group basis, helping them improve emotional regulation, confidence, resilience and social skills.

The SEMH Mentor will work closely with teachers, pastoral teams and SEN professionals to provide a consistent approach across the school. You will gain a valuable understanding of how emotional wellbeing, behaviour and learning can interact, making this an excellent opportunity for anyone considering a future in psychology, education, counselling, mental health or behaviour support.

As an SEMH Mentor, you will:

• Deliver 1:1 and small-group mentoring tailored to children's individual needs.
• Support children with emotional regulation, anxiety, confidence and behavioural challenges.
• Help children recognise their emotions and understand potential triggers.
• Teach and reinforce practical coping and self-regulation strategies.
• Encourage positive decision-making and appropriate behaviour.
• Support children to develop stronger communication and social skills.
• Help children manage conflict and challenging situations constructively.
• Encourage children to re-engage with learning following emotional or behavioural difficulties.
• Provide a calm and consistent presence throughout the school day.
• Work alongside teachers, pastoral staff and SEN professionals.
• Contribute observations to support children's individual wellbeing and behaviour plans.
• Promote a safe, respectful and inclusive environment.

The successful SEMH Mentor will look beyond behaviour and seek to understand the underlying emotional or social needs that may be influencing a child's actions.

The ideal SEMH Mentor will be:

• Patient, empathetic and approachable.
• Calm and composed when supporting children through difficult situations.
• Passionate about children's mental health, emotional wellbeing and development.
• Confident establishing positive and professional relationships.
• Consistent in setting appropriate boundaries.
• A strong communicator and active listener.
• Resilient and able to adapt to different children's needs.
• Positive, proactive and committed to helping children make progress.

Previous experience supporting children with SEMH, Autism, behavioural or emotional needs would be beneficial, but is not essential.

This role could be particularly suitable for graduates or aspiring professionals with interests in Psychology, Educational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselling, Mental Health, Teaching, Social Work or Behaviour Support.

This SEMH Mentor opportunity provides valuable practical experience for anyone considering a career working with children and young people.

You will develop skills in:

• Emotional regulation and wellbeing support.
• Behaviour management and positive behaviour approaches.
• Mentoring and relationship building.
• Conflict resolution and de-escalation.
• Communication and active listening.
• Safeguarding and professional boundaries.
• Supporting vulnerable children.
• Building resilience, confidence and independence.

Working as an SEMH Mentor will also help you understand how emotional and social factors can affect children's behaviour, relationships, learning and overall engagement with education.

This SEMH Mentor position provides:

• £85-£110 per day, depending on experience.
• PAYE weekly pay.
• Full-time and part-time opportunities.
• September 2026 start.
• A supportive specialist school environment in Oxford, Oxfordshire.
• Hands-on experience supporting children with SEMH and additional needs.
• The opportunity to work alongside experienced teachers, pastoral staff and SEN professionals.
• Valuable experience for aspiring psychologists, counsellors, therapists, teachers and mental health professionals.
• Ongoing opportunities to develop your professional skills.

As an SEMH Mentor, you will have the opportunity to provide children with the consistency, encouragement and understanding they need to make positive changes.

You may be supporting a child through an emotionally difficult morning, helping them identify what has triggered their behaviour, encouraging them to use a new coping strategy or celebrating a small step towards greater independence. These moments can make a significant difference to a child's confidence and long-term development.

If you are looking for an SEMH Mentor position where you can gain meaningful experience while supporting children's emotional wellbeing, behaviour and development, this opportunity in Oxford, Oxfordshire could be the perfect next step. Apply today!

Salary will be determined by the successful candidate's qualifications and relevant experience, and will be in accordance with the client's pay policy.