Librarian in Ashford

Are you passionate about reading, learning, and making a positive difference in people’s lives? We are looking for a Librarian to join the Education team at HMP & YOI Bronzefield. In this rewarding role, you will provide prisoners with access to reading, learning, and information services that support rehabilitation, education, and resettlement. You will help create a welcoming and inclusive library environment, promote a culture of reading across the prison, and support individuals in developing confidence, skills, and lifelong learning habits.

Working closely with the Education Manager and wider Learning & Skills team, you will play a key role in delivering the prison’s Reading Strategy and ensuring the library service meets the diverse needs of the prison population. HMP Bronzefield is a closed local prison and is the largest female prison in the UK and Europe. We focus on delivering high-quality, needs-led services that support women to make positive and lasting changes. Our programmes promote rehabilitation and well-being, and we care for around 14.5% of the national female prison population, including mothers with babies, young offenders, women on a range of sentence lengths, foreign nationals and those on remand. The prison includes multiple residential units, a healthcare centre, gym, library, workshops, visits hall, chaplaincy and kitchen.

Sodexo has a culture built on three hallmarks: Be Positive, Be Courageous and Be the Difference. We encourage people to be positive by creating hope and respect in every interaction, to be courageous by safely challenging behaviours that don’t support a positive environment, and to be the difference by taking actions that improve outcomes for those we support. By living these hallmarks each day, you help build routines, rituals and behaviours that show what good looks like. You recognise and encourage the right actions, and you lead with intention - knowing every moment of connection counts. Join Sodexo and be part of something greater. You belong in a team where you can act with purpose and thrive in your own way.

Main Responsibilities:

• Deliver an effective library and information service to prisoners across the establishment.
• Promote reading, learning, and rehabilitation through engaging library activities and initiatives.
• Maintain library stock, records, and resources to ensure materials remain organised and accessible.
• Support prisoners with learning opportunities, information requests, and access to educational resources.
• Provide trolley library services across different areas of the prison.
• Work collaboratively with education staff and other prison departments to support prisoner development and resettlement.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Holds a recognised library qualification (Level 2 Certificate in Libraries, Archives and Information Services or equivalent).
• Has strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage confidently with a diverse population.
• Demonstrates good IT skills and a high standard of literacy.
• Is proactive, organised, and able to use initiative to improve services.
• Has the ability to motivate others and solve problems effectively.
• Previous experience within a library environment or customer-facing role would be advantageous.
• Enhanced Level 1 + Enhanced DBS.

Package Description:

£35,576.06 + LW £3,729.24 pro rata (total of £39,305.30), 37.5 hours per week Monday - Friday.

Benefits include:

• Free meals (where applicable) and on-site parking.
• Access to on-site gym and subsidised gym membership.
• BUPA healthcare scheme.
• Life assurance.
• Access to a wide range of additional Sodexo benefits.

Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today!

About The Company:

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities, and we celebrate diversity. We’re an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be natural, and be the best versions of themselves. We recognise that we’re on a journey with regards to diversity and inclusion and would therefore welcome applications for candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. We run a Disability Confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria for the job.