Prison Library Assistant

Job Introduction

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 more of a vocation, because 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 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 9 hour post usually operates on a Tuesday late afternoon and evening and AM on Saturdays. Shift patterns can be subject to change, including if the Prison regime changes in the future.

Main Responsibilities

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:

• 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.

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.

The Ideal Candidate

You’ll be a positive and proactive person with great customer-facing customer service skills and experience, and a love of reading.

We’re looking for:

• a confident and calm person with integrity and a strong work ethic, who can work efficiently individually alone and as a part of a team; both the onsite Library and Prison team and in SCC Library Service.
• someone who is resilient, adapts well and positively to change and is a strategic and imaginative thinker.

If you’re someone who is eager to help, support and engage with customers and colleagues, and who would strive to make a difference then this could be the job for you.

For more information about the role, please contact Alan Smith alanG.smith@staffordshire.gov.uk

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.