Overview
Prison Library Assistant – HMP/YOI Chelmsford
Fixed Term, Part Time
£25,081 to £27,653 per annum, full time equivalent
Location: Chelmsford
Closing Date: Sunday 12th October 2025 at 11.59pm
Please note that this is an Annualised, 40 Hour, Fixed Term Contract opportunity for a period of 12 months.
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 on 20 October. If successful, the second stage interview will take place on a TBC future date 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 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.
