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Staffordshire County Council Prison Library Service - HMP Stafford Prison Library

Grade 4, salary: £21,575 per annum (pro rata, starting on scp 5 in year 1, progressing to scp 6 in yr 2)

10 / 12.75 hours per week - two permanent part-time positions available

HMP Stafford is a category C adult male prison. The Library is a branch of Staffordshire County Council Library Service and the onsite staff work closely with Library staff in the other Prison Libraries in the County, as well as with onsite Prison and Partner staff and Management.

The Library is staffed by a team of 4 Library assistants led by the Library Supervisor and is a well-used and valued resource within the Prison. This role reports to and works with both SCC, SCC PLS and Prison Management.

The Library is open daily Tuesday to Saturday. The 10 hour part-time post usually operates on a Wednesday evening, Thursday afternoon and evening and every other Saturday am and pm. The 12.75 hour part-time post usually operates on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, Wednesday evenings and every other Saturday am and pm.

Do you have a passion for reading, literacy, information and customer service? Are you looking for a unique and inspiring role? Are you calm and practical, organised and adaptable?

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.

Prison Library staff provide and develop an essential service, encouraging and promoting creativity, literacy and reading for pleasure and learning. Actively engaging 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.

We aim to play a part in reducing reoffending and enabling prisoners in improving their prospects and situation whilst in custody and for a future on release in the community, linking with public libraries.

Welcoming and receiving groups to the Library including doing Welcome induction talks, working with Library orderlies.

Taking part in creating, planning and running activities including book groups, Storybook Dads and other activities.

Creating and updating displays, promoting events and seeking user feedback and input to stock and service.

Reporting to Library Supervisor, being a supportive and positive team-player. Actively participating in SCC, SCC PLS and Prison training and development and in team meetings, 1-2-1s and so forth as per business needs.

Issuing stock and processing requests, carrying out shelving and being a part of stock management and development, including participating in stock takes, stock buying and other related duties including receiving, moving and processing regular stock and resource deliveries.

Prison Libraries are always a developing service and so there will always be changes to the role, so there is always potential for new and exciting tasks and duties.

This role would suit a positive and proactive person with great customer service skills and a love of reading.

We are seeking a confident person with integrity and a strong work ethic who can work efficiently individually alone and as a part of a team; both the onsite Library and Prison team and in SCC Library Service.

If you’re someone who is eager to help, support and engage with customers and colleagues, and who would strive to make a difference then this could be the job for you.

The role does require some cover of colleagues at other times outside the set core-shifts of this post and so would suit someone with the availability and flexibility to accommodate this.

Personal and professional development and learning are a need and expectation, so this position would suit someone who is always keen to develop and learn for their own benefit and for the benefit of their role, service and customers.

Someone who is an avid reader with a good level of literacy, numeracy and good with IT including Microsoft office.

Great communication skills are a must, whether written, verbal or other.

Attention to detail and good time-keeping.

Please note that this position is subject to a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form. Vetting and checks including employment reference checks, will be undertake by the Prison / HMPPS and Staffordshire County Council.

For further information about this role please contact Sarah Cripps [email protected]

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 a range of benefits.

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 Silver 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.