Library Assistant

Serco; Uttoxeter; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Training & progression

Employee Assistance Programme

Wellbeing resources

Discounts across retailers

Volunteering day

Employee networks

Job summary

Serco is seeking a Library Assistant at HMP Dovegate, Uttoxeter to support learning, reading, and development for prisoners while ensuring smooth day-to-day library operations. You will rotate across three libraries, delivering excellent customer service, handling admin tasks, and enabling engaging activities and events.

The role emphasizes building positive relationships with prisoners and staff, with a 8:00am–4:45pm schedule, and a starting salary of £27,570 per year with benefits.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering customer service in hospitality, retail, or similar environments.
• Strong administrative skills with multitasking accuracy.
• Able to build rapport with diverse people.
• Comfortable working in a prison environment.
• Willing to work across multiple library locations.

Responsibilities

• Deliver customer service and help users access books and learning materials.
• Carry out administrative duties and update library systems.
• Organise activities, events, and reading initiatives.
• Build professional relationships with prisoners, colleagues, and partners.
• Manage library stock and resources across locations.
• Travel between three libraries (potentially fourth) to meet needs.

Skills

Customer service

Administration

Relationship building

Prison environment experience

Flexibility

Resilience

Job description

Location: HMP Dovegate, Uttoxeter

Salary: £27,570 per annum, with a salary increase after the first year, plus excellent benefits

Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 4:45pm

Ready to impact a better future?

As a Library Assistant in our Justice and Immigration team, you'll help create a welcoming and engaging library service within a prison environment. You'll support prisoners to access learning, reading, and development opportunities while ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of library services.

This is a varied role where no two days are the same. From helping individuals find resources and supporting activities and events, to managing administration and building positive relationships, your work will have a positive impact on communities and help people develop new skills, confidence, and opportunities for the future. If you enjoy working with people, thrive in a busy environment, and take pride in delivering excellent customer service, this could be the role for you.

What You'll Do As a Library Assistant

• Deliver excellent customer service and support library users with accessing books, resources, and learning materials.
• Carry out a wide range of administrative duties, maintaining accurate records and updating library systems.
• Organise and support activities, events, reading initiatives, and engagement programmes.
• Build positive and professional relationships with prisoners, colleagues, and external partners.
• Support the management of library stock, displays, and resources across multiple library locations.
• Travel between three libraries, and potentially a fourth location, to meet operational requirements and support service delivery.

Does this sound like you?

• Experience delivering excellent customer service in hospitality, hotels, bars, retail, leisure, or other customer-facing environments.
• Strong administration skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks accurately and efficiently.
• A personable, approachable nature with a good sense of humour and the ability to build rapport with a wide range of people.
• Resilient, adaptable, and confident working within a prison environment.
• Flexible and willing to work across multiple library locations as required.
• Comfortable balancing administrative responsibilities with regular face-to-face interaction and engagement activities.

What We Offer

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (and the option to buy up to five additional leave days each year)
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (we currently offer over 60 different apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression.
• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Our employee networks support connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including veterans, LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Vetting And Checks

An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role. This includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any relevant information held by local police, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and safeguarding requirements. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire to allow us to provide any support needed for you to succeed in the role.

A Little Bit About Us

At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our Inclusive Recruitment Commitment

We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, a top Great British Employer of Veterans, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).

For support with your application, please contact [e-mail].