Bookbus Coordinator

West Sussex County Council; Chichester; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local government pension

Term Time Only contract

Flexible working options

Volunteering opportunities

Training and development opportunities

West Sussex Choices discounts

Health and Wellbeing benefits

Job summary

West Sussex County Council is seeking a Bookbus Coordinator to deliver Storytime sessions and provide an outstanding library experience for preschool children and families. Based in Chichester, the role is term-time and 30 hours per week, with the Bookbus responsible for lending, stock and a welcoming environment.

The post requires a full clean driving licence, CPC is desirable, and you will join the Families and Wellbeing team to support visits across local settings, promoting reading and

Qualifications

• 4 GCSEs with 9-4/A-C passes including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification/experience.
• NVQ Level 3 in childcare, play work, family support or related area, or equivalent experience of working with families/children.
• Full clean driving licence with C1 category.
• Evidence of working with children and young people through previous work experience.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of people across the community, including young children.
• Proven experience of planning, organising, and delivering work programmes to achieve agreed objectives and service outcomes.
• Strong analytical skills to identify and prioritise target community groups, develop strategies to promote reading and library use, and measure success against agreed targets.
• Knowledge and understanding of children's and young people's needs, and how to apply this in a practical service delivery environment.
• Experience of developing practical and sustainable service improvements based on identified community needs.

Responsibilities

• Deliver engaging story sessions for children under five, both in small groups and one-to-one, while promoting best practice in shared reading to parents, carers, and early years practitioners.
• Select, manage, and maintain a varied collection of books and resources, ensuring the Bookbus and childcare settings are stocked with high-quality, age-appropriate materials.
• Provide advice, guidance, and support to customers, acting as a first point of contact and signposting to relevant services where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Families and Wellbeing team to respond to enquiries and support service delivery.
• Take responsibility for the daily operation of the Bookbus, including vehicle checks, record keeping, and compliance with legal and operational requirements.
• Safely drive and position the Bookbus at visiting settings, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for children, staff, and visitors.
• Help identify and respond to the needs of children and families in local communities, contributing to the planning of visit schedules and service delivery to maximise impact and accessibility.

Skills

Excellent communication

Strong analytical skills

Planning and organising

Experience with children and families

Education

GCSEs including Maths and English

NVQ Level 3 in childcare or related area

Job description

Do you have a passion for inspiring young children to read?

Our library staff and volunteers make a real difference to people's lives every day. Our Bookbus brings books, stories, and learning opportunities directly to preschools, nurseries, and early years settings, helping to inspire a love of reading from an early age.

As a Bookbus Coordinator, you will play a key role in delivering this valued service, providing engaging Storytime sessions and ensuring young children, families, and early years staff receive an outstanding library experience.

Salary: £19,666 to £20,636 per annum (calculated to Term Time Only and pro rata for part time)

Contract Type: Permanent, Term Time Only

Working Pattern: 30 hours per week

Location: Power Place, 2 Terminus Rd, Chichester PO19 8UE

Interview Date: Wednesday 23 September 2026

What is term time only working? A term time only contract is for our staff who are employed to work only during periods when schools are open. Your pay is calculated on an annual basis and then you are paid over twelve equal monthly instalments.

This is a physically active role that involves handling and transporting books, stocking the Bookbus, moving around the vehicle, and supporting children during visits.

You must hold a full, clean driving licence. Experience of driving a Bookbus or a similar-sized vehicle, such as a large transit van, is desirable. A Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) is also desirable; however, if not already held, you must be willing to complete the qualification within six months of appointment.

About the Job

No two days are the same in our Bookbus Service. Working as part of the Families and Wellbeing team, you will help delivery engaging visits to nurseries, preschools, and early years settings, supporting a love of reading from an early age.

From facilitating book lending and leading story sessions to responding to enquiries, managing book stock, and ensuring a safe and welcoming environment on the mobile library, you will play a key role in creating positive experiences for children and staff alike.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver engaging story sessions for children under five, both in small groups and one-to-one, while promoting best practice in shared reading to parents, carers, and early years practitioners.
• Select, manage, and maintain a varied collection of books and resources, ensuring the Bookbus and childcare settings are stocked with high-quality, age-appropriate materials.
• Provide advice, guidance, and support to customers, acting as a first point of contact and signposting to relevant services where appropriate.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Families and Wellbeing team to respond to enquiries and support service delivery.
• Take responsibility for the daily operation of the Bookbus, including vehicle checks, record keeping, and compliance with legal and operational requirements.
• Safely drive and position the Bookbus at visiting settings, ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for children, staff, and visitors.
• Help identify and respond to the needs of children and families in local communities, contributing to the planning of visit schedules and service delivery to maximise impact and accessibility.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• 4 GCSEs with 9-4/A-C passes including Maths and English, or equivalent qualification/experience.
• NVQ Level 3 in childcare, play work, family support or related area, or equivalent experience of working with families/children.
• Full clean driving licence with C1 category.
• Evidence of working with children and young people through previous work experience.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with a wide range of people across the community, including young children.
• Proven experience of planning, organising, and delivering work programmes to achieve agreed objectives and service outcomes.
• Strong analytical skills to identify and prioritise target community groups, develop strategies to promote reading and library use, and measure success against agreed targets.
• Knowledge and understanding of children's and young people's needs, and how to apply this in a practical service delivery environment.
• Experience of developing practical and sustainable service improvements based on identified community needs.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Rewards and Benefits

As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance and are rewarded for the work they do.

We think libraries are great places to work, where you can make a difference to local communities every day. Find out more about the variety that comes with working in a library and hear first-hand from some of our library staff here:Library Jobs at West Sussex Libraries

Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:

• A excellent local government pension scheme
• A Term Time Only (TTO) contract where you will only work during periods in which schools are open.
• A range of flexible working options, depending on your job role
• Maternity, paternity, dependency and adoption leave
• volunteering opportunities
• Training and development opportunities, including coaching and mentoring.
• A range of discounts give our staff access to hundreds of offers; groceries, travel, cinema tickets, days out, leisure activities, high street retailers and the opportunity to save over £1,000 a year through our West Sussex Choices benefits platform.
• Health and Wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and Voluntary Health Cash Plans.

For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Rewards and Benefits page.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CPP01407.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to right to work within the UK, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.

RSi