Prison Library Supervisor

Overview

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 space and service to our Library users. The Library is crucial in supporting the wellbeing of those in prison, contributing to positive behaviours, and learning and development. The work you’ll do can have a real impact on people’s lives and the community.

HMP Stafford is a category C adult male prison. The Library is a branch of Staffordshire County Council Library Service, and the onsite Library team work closely with Library staff in the other Prison Libraries in the County, as well as with onsite Prison and Partner staff and Management.

The Library is a well-used valued resource within the Prison, and is open Tuesday to Saturday. Prison Library staff offer both Outreach / wing based and main library, service provision, supporting all prisoners with access to books, information & resources.

The Library team consists of 3 Library assistants led by the Library Supervisor. This role reports to and works with both SCC, SCC PLS and Prison Management. This 23 hour part-time post usually operates on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and afternoons, Thursday afternoon and evening, two in 3 Friday mornings, and one in 3 Saturdays; morning and afternoon. Shift patterns can be subject to change, including if the Prison regime changes in the future.

Please note that this position is part time and the salary is pro-rata, the annual salary shown is what this post would be paid annually for full time hours – candidates should factor this in before applying.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide excellent face-to-face customer service and demonstrate strong leadership skills.
• Work efficiently both individually and as part of a team, including the onsite Library and Prison team and SCC Library Service.
• 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.
• Cover colleagues outside of set core-shifts, with availability and flexibility.

We will be holding in-person interviews for this post. Candidates should consider the location and travel / distance of this post, as well as the demands of the role and environment prior to applying.

The Ideal Candidate

The Prison / custodial environment can be challenging, but also extremely rewarding. Working in Prison Libraries is a vocational customer service role, that offers an opportunity to make a difference on a daily basis.

You will:

• have experience and confidence in dealing with a range of customers and situations.
• be able to demonstrate resilience, adaptability to change, and strategic thinking.
• have experience of working in a public service environment and the delivery of excellent customer service.
• have experience of working with a variety of ICT packages and applications.
• commit to personal and professional development and learning.
• hold a current, valid UK driver’s license.

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.

If you have any specific questions about this role please contact Prison Library Service Development Manager Sarah Cripps sarah.cripps@staffordshire.gov.uk

Successful applicants will be invited to in-person interview at Stafford Prison, on a date to be confirmed: We plan to hold interviews week commencing 22 September and week commencing 29 September 2025.

Please note: we may close this advert early should we receive a large volume of applications, so please don’t delay submitting your application if interested.

Our Recruitment Process and About SCC

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’ll 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 – Careers at Staffordshire

Our recruitment process:

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 background 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.