At a Glance
- Tasks: Support library services and manage administrative tasks within HMP/YOI Chelmsford.
- Company: HMP/YOI Chelmsford is a Category B facility focused on rehabilitation and education.
- Benefits: Enjoy 26 days annual leave pro rata, a generous pension scheme, and health support.
- Other info: This is a fixed-term, part-time role with 130 annualised hours over 12 months.
- Why this job: Play a crucial role in fostering a positive reading culture among prisoners.
- Qualifications: Experience working with offenders or vulnerable individuals is essential.
The predicted salary is between 14.84 - 14.84 £ per hour.
Fixed Term, Part Time £25,959 up to £28,621 per annum (full-time equivalent) Location: Chelmsford Working style: Fixed-base worker. Please note that this is an Annualised 130 Hour Fixed Term Contract opportunity for a period of 12 months. Hours will be worked across the following days and times: Monday-Thursday 8.00am-5.00pm. Actual earnings £13.46- £14.84 per hour. Interviews will be conducted face to face at HMP Chelmsford Prison. Entry to the prison will involve adhering to strict security procedures; you will be required to bring photo ID to ensure entry.
The Opportunity HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution (YOI) Chelmsford is a Category B facility in Chelmsford, Essex. It houses adult male prisoners and young offenders, mainly serving the local courts. The prison offers a range of educational and rehabilitation programmes, such as literacy, numeracy, and vocational training, all designed to support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending. We are currently recruiting an annualised hours Prison Library Assistant to support the delivery of a prison library service within the unique environment of HMP/YOI Chelmsford. This role involves working closely with prisoners, understanding their unique needs, and fostering a positive reading culture within the prison. As part of a dynamic team, the Prison Library Assistant will handle library, administrative, and support activities, proactively managing their workload and using personal judgement to resolve issues. The successful candidate will demonstrate empathy, strong personal integrity, and diligence, and will be committed to providing excellent customer service. You will play a crucial role in encouraging prisoners to engage with reading, which can be a vital part of their rehabilitation.
Accountabilities
- Support the Prison Library Manager to deliver a library service to HMP/YOI as laid out in the Service Level Agreement, together with added value activities such as Storybook Dads, Reading Ahead and Family Library Times, which support improved literacy, health and wellbeing and family cohesion.
- Deliver Rhymetimes in the prison library for prisoners' children.
- Provide effective, high-quality support, advice, and guidance to Prisoner Orderlies on basic library procedures.
- Responsible for dealing with subject knowledge-based queries and activities.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues, to drive the delivery of productivity and continuous improvement across customer processes.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues to understand customer needs, resolving them promptly and providing them with a service they value.
- Collate relevant information from a variety of sources to ensure that enquiries can be resolved in a timely fashion.
What’s in it for you?
- Wide range of learning and development opportunities.
- 26 days annual leave pro rata + bank holidays + choice to buy extra annual leave.
- Generous Local Government Defined Benefit pension scheme.
- Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards.
- Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group.
- Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave.
- Cycle to Work Scheme.
The Experience You Will Bring
Essential
- Experience of working with offenders, or vulnerable people in a professional capacity.
- Ability to undertake all the aspects of the role, including distribution of library books across all wings and floors. The prison is a Victorian building and there are a number of steps and heavy doors, with no lifts.
Desirable
- Demonstrable experience and competence of MS Office and their practical application, with the ability to use computerised systems with a high level of speed and accuracy.
- Library experience.
Please note all offers are subject to the completion of Essex County Council compliance and HMP Prison vetting.
EEO Statement
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We are committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We are also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers who meet the minimum requirements of the role.
If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service, please visit https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.
Prison Library Assistant – HMP/YOI Chelmsford employer: Essex County Counci
HMP/YOI Chelmsford, located in Essex, offers a supportive environment for rehabilitation through educational programmes. Employees benefit from a Local Government Defined Benefit pension scheme and access to health and wellbeing support. Join a dedicated team committed to improving literacy and reducing reoffending.
