Prison Library Assistant

Staffordshire County Council; Purston Jaglin; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffordshire County Council’s Prison Library role supports literacy, information access and wellbeing for prisoners. The on-site Library team provides outreach and main library services, helping prisoners access books, information and learning activities.

This 9-hour grade 4 part-time post operates mainly Tuesday afternoon/evening and Saturday mornings. Salary is £26,847–£27,274 per year, paid pro-rata for this 9-hour contract, and the role is permanent with a DBS check and security clearances.

Qualifications

• Experience in a public service environment and delivering excellent face-to-face customer service.
• Experience of teamwork and collaborating with others.
• Experience of following security and confidentiality procedures.
• Flexible approach to duties and willingness to travel if required.

Responsibilities

• Provide and develop an essential library service within the prison environment.
• Encourage and promote creativity, literacy and reading for pleasure and learning.
• Engage with customers to support use of library spaces and resources for personal and professional development.
• Work across the main library and prison to offer resources and activities.

Skills

Public service

Customer service

Teamwork

Security procedures

Flexibility

Driver's license

Job description

£26,847 to £27,274 per year, Competitive

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Disability Confident:

Yes

Closing Date:

03/11/2026

About this job

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 prison.

The Library is a branch of Staffordshire County Council Library Service, and the onsite Library team work closely with Library staff in the other Prison Libraries in the County, as well as with onsite Prison and Partner staff and Management.

This role reports to and works with both SCC, SCC PLS and Prison Management.

The Library is a well-used and valued resource within the Prison, and is currently open daily Monday to Saturday.

The Library team of 2 Library assistants led by the Library Supervisor, offer both outreach / wing based and main library, service provision, supporting all prisoners with access to books, information, activities & resources.

This 9 hour grade 4 part-time post usually operates on Tuesday afternoon into evening and Saturday mornings.

Shift patterns can be subject to change, including if the Prison regime changes in the future.

Please note that as stated, the salary range shown reflects full time hours, the actual salary paid is on a pro-rata basis for the 9 hour contract, please factor this in before you apply 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.

Work in the main library and across the prison to offer Library resources and activities.

The Ideal Candidate The minimum criteria that will be used to shortlist for this role will be: Experience of working in a public service environment and the delivery of excellent face-to-face customer service Experience of team working Experience of following security and confidentiality procedures Flexible approach to the duties Ability and enthusiasm to work and engage with a diverse group of people The role may require some cover of colleagues at other times outside the set core-shifts of this post, so would suit someone with the availability and flexibility to accommodate.

It would be beneficial if you are happy and able to travel and hold a current valid UK driver’s license.

Don’t feel you meet all the requirements?

This position is subject to a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Vetting and checks, including employment reference checks will be undertaken by the Prison / HMPPS and Staffordshire County Council Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered.

We value transferable skills, experiences, and qualifications so consider applying anyway or for an informal chat about the role you may contact Alan Smith [e-mail] We plan for Interviews to take place on 18 November on site.

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.

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