Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

About the role

Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Fixed Term, Part Time

£23,344 to £26,011 per annum (full time equivalent)

Location: Chelmsford

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.

This is a fixed term contract / secondment opportunity for 12 months. The role is a part time working 16 hours per week, Wednesday and Thursday 8am to 5pm, the pro rata salary will be between £10,095 to £11,248 per annum. If successful you will need to attend training for one week (Monday to Friday).

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.
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 complex enquiries or customer complaints can be resolved in a timely fashion.

What’s in it for you?

Wide range of learning and development opportunities
26 days annual leave + bank holidays + choice to buy extra
Generous Local Government Salary related 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 compliance.

To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services

Interviews

First stage interviews will be conducted face to face at HMP Chelmsford Prison on 28 th November. If successful, the second stage interview will take place on Tuesday 3rd December and will involve a tour of the prison. Entry to the prison will involve adhering to strict security procedures, you will be require to bring photo ID to ensure entry.

Why Essex?

Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, register here to be part of our new Essex Talent Community.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email Frances.Osborn@justice.gov.uk or Resourcing.Team@essex.gov.uk

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Prison Library Assistant – HMP/YOI Chelmsford