Library Support Officer

LTE Group; Wigan; Remote; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

35 days annual leave

8 bank holidays

Wellbeing / personal development time

Significant Pension contributions

Retail discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

Novus is seeking an enthusiastic Library Support Officer to join the team at HMP Hindley, supporting learners in a prison education setting to access information, reading materials and resources to develop new skills and confidence.

You will help create a welcoming library environment, working closely with education colleagues to support rehabilitation, personal growth and positive futures. The role is permanent and full-time (37 hours per week).

Qualifications

• Hold Hidden Difficulties Level 2 or be willing to work towards within an agreed timeframe.
• Hold Level 2 qualifications in Literacy and Numeracy or be willing to work towards within an agreed timeframe.
• Have a proven track record of achieving performance targets.
• Commit to accurate and timely reporting.
• Demonstrate effective communication & interpersonal skills required for positive team working.
• Demonstrate good IT skills, working with Microsoft Office and library systems.
• Have a high attention to detail and be organised.
• Experience of working in a customer facing role (Desirable).
• Experience of working with people presenting with challenging behaviour or from disadvantaged groups, or within a prison education environment (Desirable).

Responsibilities

• Support learners in accessing information, reading materials and resources.
• Create a welcoming, well-managed library environment.
• Work closely with education colleagues to support rehabilitation, personal growth and positive futures.
• Assist with reporting and DBS/safeguarding related processes as required.

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Attention to detail

Organised

Customer-facing experience

Experience in prison education context

Education

Hidden Difficulties Level 2

Literacy Level 2

Numeracy Level 2

Tools

Library systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Novus are seeking an enthusiastic and organised Library Support Officer to join our team at HMP Hindley, supporting learners in a prison education setting to access the information, reading materials and resources they need to develop new skills and confidence.

In this rewarding role, you’ll help create a welcoming, purposeful and well-managed library environment, working closely with education colleagues to support rehabilitation, personal growth and positive futures. If you believe in the power of reading and are committed to widening access to learning, we’d love to hear from you.

We have a great opportunity available to join Novus, our prison education provider at HMP Hindley, working as a Library Support Officer on a permanent, full-time basis (37 hours per week).

Who are Novus?

Novus are a leading provider of prison education and have been supporting men, women, and children of all ages for over 30 years across the UK to take new directions. We are also part of the LTE group of companies that include The Manchester College, MOL, Total People, UCEN, and LTE Group Operations. We are currently rated “Good” by Ofsted and have partnerships with over 1000 industry and employer partners, ensuring our learners secure their place as the movers and shakers of the future. Our business is growing year on year due to our continued success as a leading provider in prison education.

Site Information

HMP Hindley is a Prison and Young Offender Institution (YOI) based in Bickershaw near Wigan, Greater Manchester. The resettlement prison has capacity for 600 young adults (18-25 years old) and adult males. The Prison is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where its prisoners can learn new skills to help them on release.

Role Responsibilities

Please see the attached role profile for an overview of general role responsibilities once you click Apply. Specific details about the individual role are shared during the interview process.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will need to:

• To hold a Hidden Difficulties Level 2 or equivalent (or be willing to work towards within an agreed timeframe)
• To hold Level 2 qualifications in Literacy and Numeracy (or be willing to work towards within an agreed timeframe)
• Have a proven track record of achieving performance targets
• Commit to accurate and timely reporting
• Demonstrate effective communication & interpersonal skills required for positive team working
• Demonstrate good IT skills, working with Microsoft Office and library systems
• Have a high attention to detail
• Be logical, methodical and organised
• Have experience of working in a customer facing role (Desirable)
• Have a track record of working effectively with people presenting with challenging behaviour or from disadvantaged groups, or within a prison education environment (Desirable)
• 35 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• 2 hours for wellbeing / personal development per week
• Significant Pension contributions
• Retail Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Cycle to work scheme

Safeguarding

The LTE Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process. Some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check.

Novus is committed to providing an environment where everyone is valued as an individual and where learners and colleagues can work, learn, flourish and develop their skills and knowledge in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. We are committed to working in an inclusive way with all the communities in which we are geographically located and to developing a workforce and learner community that reflects the UK’s rich diversity and vibrancy.

The closing date for this job advert is 13/10/2026. However, sometimes the job advert may close early if we receive a good response!