Library Assistant-HMP Dovegate Full Time

Location: HMP Dovegate, ST14 8XR

Salary: £25,466- £26,767 per annum, plus excellent benefits

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Ready to impact a better future?

As a Library Assistant in our Justice and Immigration division, you’ll play a vital dual‑support role across HMP Dovegate’s libraries and distance learning provision. You’ll help ensure prisoners have equal access to educational, recreational and cultural resources, while also supporting learners undertaking distance learning programmes.

This is a rewarding and purpose‑driven role where your organisation, communication skills and passion for learning will support rehabilitation and personal development in a secure environment.

You’ll Be Entrusted To

What you’ll do as a Library Assistant

• Promote Library and Learning Resource Centre (LRC) services to prisoners, staff and visitors.
• Motivate learners and support solutions for non‑attendance.
• Deliver inclusive library services that support leisure, cultural, pastoral and educational needs.
• Maintain good order and reasonable behaviour across library sites.
• Classify, organise and maintain resources using appropriate systems (alphabetical and Dewey).
• Carry out regular stock maintenance, shelving and timely processing of returns.
• Use the designated library management system to manage loans, renewals and departed items.
• Provide request services using external sources when required.
• Support prisoners in making reading choices and promote reading for pleasure.
• Deliver LRC induction sessions for new users.
• Keep up to date with topical publications and maintain relevant stock.
• Market and publicise LRC services across the establishment.
• Support multiple library sites, including the Main Prison, Therapeutic Community and Academic Library.
• Respond to routine enquiries for books, magazines, electronic resources and information.
• Deliver and collect materials for users unable to attend the LRC.
• Maintain and update library notice boards regularly.
• Facilitate recreational and educational activities such as book clubs, reading groups and the Shannon Trust Reading Scheme.
• Completing Prisoner Education Trust (PET) monitoring forms and Open University registrations.
• Supporting and monitoring learners, liaising with PET and OU providers.
• Arranging, scheduling and invigilating distance learning and Open University exams.
• Ensuring assignments are submitted within required timescales.
• Managing the distribution of distance learning materials and mail.
• Ensuring IT systems and learning resources are available and up to date.
• Supervising weekly distance learning sessions in line with the prison regime.
• Liaising with other establishments to maintain learning continuity during transfers.
• Supporting continuation of studies on release.
• Conducting regular one‑to‑one learner reviews.
• Maintaining accurate, confidential records in line with data protection requirements.

An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role. This includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any relevant information held by local police, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and safeguarding requirements. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire to allow us to provide any support needed for you to succeed in the role.

Does this sound like you?

You’ll be a great fit for this role if you have:

• A minimum of Level 2 in Maths and English.
• Strong administrative and organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Good IT skills, including confidence using office applications and learning systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to supervise and support learners effectively.
• A proactive, adaptable and quality‑driven approach to work.
• The ability to manage multiple responsibilities and meet deadlines.
• Experience working in a custodial, educational or library environment (desirable).
• A commitment to confidentiality, safeguarding and professional boundaries.

Discover all you need to keep growing

We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can have confidence you’ll be part of a supportive organisation that values learning, inclusion and continuous development. We provide training, encouragement and opportunities to help you grow your skills and build a meaningful career.

What We Offer

• Holidays: 25 days plus bank holidays
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Training and development: Role‑specific training and professional development opportunities
• Health and wellbeing: Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
• Discounts: Discounts across a wide range of retailers and services
• Employee networks: Inclusive networks supporting collaboration, belonging and development

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.

About Serco

At Serco, not only is the nature of the work we do important, everyone has an important role to play, from caring for vulnerable people to managing complex public services. We are a team of 50,000 people responsible for delivering essential public services around the world in areas including defence, transport, justice, immigration, healthcare and citizen services. We are innovators, committed to redesigning and improving public services for the benefit of everyone.

By joining Serco you will have unlimited access to our Global Employee Networks – SercoInspire (Gender), SercoEmbrace (Multicultural), SercoUnlimited (Disability) and In@Serco (LGBT & Networks). Serco Employee Networks, led by colleagues who are passionate about diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Apply

Please click on the apply button to complete your application. Occasionally we receive a large volume of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

At Serco, we see people first and foremost for their performance and potential. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. As such we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool. We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working. We operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly Disability Confident Leader employers and holder of the Gold Inclusive Employer Standard. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview. For help with your application please contact 0345 010 4000.

At Serco we support fair access to employment for those with unspent criminal convictions through the ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some may be exempt due to the nature of the role and the security clearance required). Please contact our recruitment team directly on 0345 010 4000 to discuss.