Job Description

Mental Health Teaching Assistant - Rushden
Location: Rushden, Northamptonshire
Start Date: September 2026
Contract Type: Full-Time | Long-Term with Potential Permanent Opportunities
Pay: £95-£105 per day (dependent on experience and level of school support)

Are you passionate about supporting young people and helping them overcome barriers to learning?
Do you have an interest in mental health, wellbeing, and creating a positive environment where students feel safe, valued, and supported?

Tradewind Recruitment is working in partnership with a supportive secondary school in Rushden that is seeking an enthusiastic Mental Health Teaching Assistant to join their team from September 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with an interest in young people's wellbeing, psychology, counselling, youth work, or education who wants to make a meaningful difference in students' lives.

This role is ideal for individuals looking to gain valuable experience supporting students with their emotional wellbeing, confidence, behaviour, and engagement in education. You will work closely with teachers, pastoral teams, and other professionals to provide tailored support for students who may be experiencing social, emotional, or mental health challenges.

Your Role:

  • Supporting students with their emotional wellbeing and mental health needs within the school environment

  • Providing 1:1 and small group support to help students build confidence, resilience, and positive coping strategies

  • Working alongside teachers and pastoral staff to support students' engagement with learning

  • Helping students develop social skills, self-esteem, and independence

  • Supporting students who may experience anxiety, low confidence, emotional difficulties, or barriers to learning

  • Assisting with classroom support and helping to create a calm, inclusive learning environment

  • Building positive and trusting relationships with students and acting as a consistent source of support

What We're Looking For:

  • A genuine passion for supporting young people and improving their wellbeing

  • An interest in mental health, psychology, counselling, education, youth work, or SEND support

  • Experience working with young people through schools, mentoring, coaching, care, youth work, or similar settings (desirable but not essential)

  • A calm, patient, and empathetic approach when supporting students

  • Strong communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships

  • A proactive, reliable, and adaptable attitude

  • A willingness to learn and develop within a school environment

  • An Enhanced DBS on the Update Service, or willingness to apply for one

Why Apply?

  • Gain valuable experience supporting young people's mental health and wellbeing in a secondary school setting

  • Opportunity for the role to become permanent for the right candidate

  • Work alongside experienced teachers, pastoral teams, and wellbeing professionals

  • Access to training and CPD opportunities to support your professional development

  • Competitive daily pay with weekly payments

  • Excellent experience for those considering careers in psychology, counselling, education, social care, or teaching

Professional Development with Tradewind

As a Tradewind candidate, you will have access to The National College CPD platform, providing thousands of accredited courses covering areas such as safeguarding, mental health awareness, SEND support, behaviour management, and supporting vulnerable young people.

If you are passionate about making a positive difference to students' lives and want to develop your experience in mental health and education, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today to find out more about Mental Health Teaching Assistant opportunities in Rushden starting September 2026.