Library Assistant-HMP Dovegate

Location: HMP Dovegate, ST14 8XR

Salary: £25,466- £26,767 per annum, plus excellent benefits

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Ready to impact a better future? As a Library Assistant in our Justice and Immigration division, you’ll play a vital dual-support role across HMP Dovegate’s libraries and distance learning provision. You’ll help ensure prisoners have equal access to educational, recreational and cultural resources, while also supporting learners undertaking distance learning programmes. This is a rewarding and purpose-driven role where your organisation, communication skills and passion for learning will support rehabilitation and personal development in a secure environment.

What you’ll do as a Library Assistant:

• Promote Library and Learning Resource Centre (LRC) services to prisoners, staff and visitors.
• Motivate learners and support solutions for non-attendance.
• Deliver inclusive library services that support leisure, cultural, pastoral and educational needs.
• Maintain good order and reasonable behaviour across library sites.
• Classify, organise and maintain resources using appropriate systems (alphabetical and Dewey).
• Carry out regular stock maintenance, shelving and timely processing of returns.
• Use the designated library management system to manage loans, renewals and departed items.
• Provide request services using external sources when required.
• Support prisoners in making reading choices and promote reading for pleasure.
• Deliver LRC induction sessions for new users.
• Keep up to date with topical publications and maintain relevant stock.
• Market and publicise LRC services across the establishment.
• Support multiple library sites, including the Main Prison, Therapeutic Community and Academic Library.
• Respond to routine enquiries for books, magazines, electronic resources and information.
• Deliver and collect materials for users unable to attend the LRC.
• Maintain and update library notice boards regularly.
• Facilitate recreational and educational activities such as book clubs, reading groups and the Shannon Trust Reading Scheme.
• Complete Prisoner Education Trust (PET) monitoring forms and Open University registrations.
• Support and monitor learners, liaising with PET and OU providers.
• Arrange, schedule and invigilate distance learning and Open University exams.
• Ensure assignments are submitted within required timescales.
• Manage the distribution of distance learning materials and mail.
• Ensure IT systems and learning resources are available and up to date.
• Supervise weekly distance learning sessions in line with the prison regime.
• Liaise with other establishments to maintain learning continuity during transfers.
• Support continuation of studies on release.
• Conduct regular one-to-one learner reviews.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records in line with data protection requirements.

An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role. This includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any relevant information held by local police, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and safeguarding requirements. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire to allow us to provide any support needed for you to succeed in the role.

Does this sound like you? You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:

• A minimum of Level 2 in Maths and English.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Good IT skills, including confidence using office applications and learning systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to supervise and support learners effectively.
• A proactive, adaptable and quality-driven approach to work.
• The ability to manage multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines.
• Experience working in a custodial, educational or library environment (desirable).
• A commitment to confidentiality, safeguarding and professional boundaries.

Discover all you need to keep growing. We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a supportive organisation that values learning, inclusion and continuous development. We provide training, encouragement and opportunities to help you grow your skills and build a meaningful career.

What we offer:

• Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Training and development: Role-specific training and professional development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
• Discounts: Discounts across a wide range of retailers and services
• Employee networks: Inclusive networks supporting collaboration, belonging and development

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.