Prison Library Assistant

Do you have a passion for reading, literacy, information and customer service? Are you looking for a unique and inspiring role? We see our library roles as a vocation, you'll be part of a community of partners, providing a much-needed service to our library users. The library is crucial in supporting the wellbeing of those in prison and it helps to promote positive behaviours in those library users. So, the work you'll do will have a real impact on people's lives and the community.

HMP Featherstone is a category C adult male prison which has a team of one Library Assistant and is led by the Library Supervisor. It is a well-used and valued resource within the Prison and is currently open daily Monday to Saturday. Prison library staff offer both outreach/wing based and main library service provision, supporting all prisoners with access to books, information & resources. This part-time pro rata 9 hour post usually operates on a Monday afternoon and evening and Saturday mornings. Shift patterns can be subject to change, including if the Prison regime changes in the future.

Main Responsibilities: We aim to play a part in reducing reoffending and enabling prisoners in improving their prospects and situation whilst in custody and for a future on release in the community, linking with public libraries, and leading into resettlement. You will:

• Provide and develop an essential service, encouraging and promoting creativity, literacy and reading for pleasure and learning.
• Actively engage with customers, to support them in using their library space, service and resources for their personal and professional development and benefit both short and long term.

The Ideal Candidate: You are:

• Positive, proactive, and passionate about reading, with strong face-to-face customer service experience.
• Calm, confident, and resilient, with integrity and a strong work ethic.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively across Library, Prison, and SCC teams.
• A strategic and imaginative thinker who adapts well to change.
• Eager to support and engage with customers and colleagues, striving to make a difference.

Formal and informal personal and professional development and learning are a need and expectation, so this position would suit someone who is always keen to develop, diversify and learn for their own benefit and for the benefit of their role, team, service and customers. The role does require some cover of colleagues at other times outside the set core shifts of this post, and so would suit someone with the availability and flexibility to accommodate this. It would therefore be beneficial if you are happy and able to travel and hold a current valid UK driver's license.

If you have specific questions about the role, not covered in the advert or job description, you may contact Alan Smith at alanG.smith@staffordshire.gov.uk. We intend to interview week commencing 9th February at the prison. This position is subject to a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form. Vetting and checks including employment reference checks, will be undertaken by the Prison / HMPPS and Staffordshire County Council.

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you will bring to the role.

About Staffordshire County Council: We are no ordinary county council. Our Values: The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively. Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy: We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future. We look forward and race ahead – that goes for your career too.

Our benefits: We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to our rewards and benefits.

As an Authority, we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and communities. As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

As you'll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.