Part Time Prison Library Assistant - HMP/YOI Chelmsford

Hours will be worked across the following days and times: Monday - Thursday 8.00am-5.00pm. 

Interview dates: First stage interviews will be conducted face to face at HMP Chelmsford Prison. If successful, the second stage interview will take place 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.

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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 programmes, 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 Manager 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, with no lifts and some heavy doors. 

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. 

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

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.

Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

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.

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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email daniel.warner@essex.gov.uk

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