Mental Health Assistant

Mental Health Specialist Teaching Assistant - Bolton

Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester

Salary: £95-£110 per day, dependent on experience

Contract: Long‑term, full‑time, with the potential for a permanent position

Start Date: ASAP

Tradewind Recruitment are currently seeking a Mental Health Specialist Teaching Assistant to join a supportive primary school in Bolton. This is an excellent opportunity for a compassionate and experienced professional with a background in children's mental health, SEMH, SEN, pastoral care or emotional wellbeing support. The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting a child's emotional wellbeing, mental health and engagement with learning throughout the school day. The child has experienced significant challenges and would benefit from a consistent, trusted adult who can provide tailored emotional support, promote positive coping strategies and help them access education in a safe, nurturing and supportive environment.

The Role

• Providing dedicated one-to-one mental health, pastoral and learning support.
• Building a strong, positive and trusting relationship with the child.
• Supporting emotional wellbeing, self‑regulation and positive mental health.
• Helping the child recognise and manage their emotions using appropriate strategies.
• Providing structured brain breaks, sensory breaks and opportunities for emotional regulation.
• Supporting the child to return to learning following periods of emotional dysregulation.
• Promoting confidence, resilience, independence and positive self‑esteem.
• Identifying emotional and environmental barriers to learning and implementing appropriate support strategies.
• Creating a calm, predictable and nurturing environment where the child feels safe and understood.
• Working collaboratively with the class teacher, SENCO and wider pastoral team to ensure consistent support.
• Encouraging positive relationships, engagement with school and successful learning experiences.

The Ideal Candidate

• Children's mental health and emotional wellbeing support.
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.
• Pastoral care, mentoring or one-to-one support.
• Supporting children with SEN and additional learning needs.
• Emotional regulation, co-regulation and positive behaviour strategies.
• Building trusting relationships with children who have experienced adversity or difficult circumstances.
• Implementing structured brain breaks and personalised regulation strategies.
• Supporting children experiencing anxiety, emotional distress or barriers to accessing education.

You will need to be

• Calm, patient and empathetic.
• Emotionally intelligent, resilient and non-judgemental.
• Consistent and reliable, with a nurturing approach.
• Confident in building trust while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Skilled at recognising emotional needs and responding sensitively.
• Able to balance mental health support with appropriate learning expectations.
• Committed to helping children feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

Why Apply?

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to a child's mental health, wellbeing and educational journey. The role is initially long-term and full-time, with the potential to become permanent for the right candidate. Tradewind Recruitment would particularly welcome applications from experienced Mental Health Support Workers, SEMH Teaching Assistants, Pastoral Practitioners, Learning Mentors and SEN professionals who are passionate about supporting children's emotional wellbeing and helping them thrive in education. The school is based in Bolton, with transport links accessible from surrounding areas.

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