Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dedicated Part Time Prison Library Assistant at HMP/YOI Chelmsford. This role is essential for fostering a positive reading culture among prisoners and supporting their rehabilitation through library services. You will work closely with individuals who have complex needs, offering empathy and understanding while managing library operations. This opportunity not only allows you to make a meaningful impact but also comes with a range of benefits, including generous leave, a pension scheme, and health support. Join a dynamic team committed to improving lives through education and literacy.

Benefits

26 days annual leave pro rata

Generous Local Government Defined Benefit pension

Health and wellbeing support platform

Cycle to Work Scheme

Volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Experience operating electronic or hard copy filing systems.
• Competence in MS Office applications with speed and accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of library services and activities.
• Provide high-quality support and guidance to Prisoner Orderlies.
• Collaborate with colleagues to understand and resolve customer needs.

Skills

Empathy

Customer Service

MS Office

Emotional Resilience

Assertiveness

Tools

Electronic Filing Systems

Job description

Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Fixed Term, Part Time

£25,081 to £27,653 Per Annum, Full Time Equivalent

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: Monday 5th May 2025 at 11.59pm

Please note that this is a Fixed Term Contract / Secondment opportunity for a period of 12 months.

This is a part time role, offering 32 hours per week (0.87 full time equivalent), which will be worked across the following days and times:

• Monday's: 8.00am - 5.00pm with a 60-minute lunch break.
• Tuesday's: 8.00am - 5.00pm with a 60-minute lunch break.
• Wednesday's: 8.00am - 5.00pm with a 60-minute lunch break.
• Thursday's: 8.00am - 5.00pm with a 60-minute lunch break.

Actual earnings based on 32 hours per week - £21,691.68 to £23,916.10 Per annum.

Interview dates: First stage interviews will be conducted face to face at HMP Chelmsford Prison on 20 May 2025. If successful, the second stage interview will take place on a future date TBC and will involve a tour of the prison. Entry to the prison will involve adhering to strict security procedures, you will be required to bring photo ID to ensure entry.

The Opportunity:

HM Prison and Young Offenders Institution (YOI) Chelmsford is a Category B facility in Chelmsford, Essex. It houses adult male prisoners and young offenders, mainly serving the local courts. The prison offers a range of educational and rehabilitation programs, such as literacy, numeracy, and vocational training, all designed to support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending.

We are currently recruiting a part time Prison Library Assistant to support the delivery of a prison library service within the unique environment of HMP/YOI Chelmsford. This role involves working closely with prisoners, understanding their unique needs, and fostering a positive reading culture within the prison.

As part of a dynamic team, the Prison Library Assistant will handle library, administrative, and support activities, proactively managing their workload and using personal judgement to resolve issues. The successful candidate will demonstrate empathy, strong personal integrity, and diligence, and will be committed to providing excellent customer service. You will play a crucial role in encouraging prisoners to engage with reading, which can be a vital part of their rehabilitation.

Accountabilities:

• Support the Prison Library Supervisor to deliver a library service to HMP/YOI as laid out in the Service Level Agreement, together with added value activities such as Storybook Dads, Reading Ahead and Family Library Times, which support improved literacy, health and wellbeing and family cohesion.
• Deliver Rhymetimes in the prison library for prisoners' children.
• Provide effective, high-quality support, advice, and guidance to Prisoner Orderlies on basic library procedures.
• Responsible for dealing with subject knowledge-based queries and activities.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, to drive the delivery of productivity and continuous improvement across customer processes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to understand customer needs, resolving them promptly and providing them with a service they value.
• Collate relevant information from a variety of sources to ensure that enquiries can be resolved in a timely fashion.

What's in it for you?

• Wide range of learning and development opportunities
• 26 days annual leave pro rata + bank holidays + choice to buy extra annual leave.
• Generous Local Government Defined Benefit pension scheme.
• Access to hundreds of discounts and benefits through Essex Rewards
• Access to our health and wellbeing support platform with Vita Health Group
• Up to 4 days per annum volunteering leave
• Cycle to Work Scheme

The Experience You Will Bring:

Essential:

Confident, assertive, and emotionally resilient, whilst maintaining empathy for the library customers who may have complex needs including poor mental health, low levels of literacy and challenging behaviour.

• Previous experience of operating electronic or hard copy filing systems
• Demonstrable experience and competence of MS Office and their practical application, with the ability to use computerised systems with a high level of speed and accuracy.
• Ability to undertake all the aspects of the role, including distribution of library books across all wings and floors. The prison is a Victorian building and there are a number of steps and heavy doors, with no lifts.

Desirable:

• Experience of working with offenders.
• Library experience is desirable although not essential as full training will be given.

Please note all offers are subject to the completion of Essex County Council compliance and HMP Prison vetting.