Librarian

Job Introduction

HMP Forest Bank are recruiting for a Librarian.

You will provide a range of reading and reference material to offenders in custody based on analysis of requirements, in order to contribute to their resettlement needs and support identified learning opportunities.

Sodexo Justice aims to change lives for the better by reducing reoffending and improving the quality of life for those under our supervision and in our care. We deliver safe, effective and innovative custodial and community rehabilitation services that challenge offending behaviour, protect the public and offer individuals the opportunity to change their lives for the better. We deliver the total operation of five prisons within the UK and own six Community Rehabilitation Companies in partnership with crime reduction charity Nacro.

HMP Forest Bank serves the courts of Greater Manchester and maintains strong links to the local community with a focus on resettlement. We aim to deliver quality of life services and support people to change their lives for the better.

Opportunities for learning and developing work-ready skills are on offer for all who come in to custody, but our commitment to reducing reoffending in local communities does not end at the prison gate. We support people released from custody through innovative partnerships in substance misuse services in Bury and Oldham, working with people to maintain recovery and lead law-abiding lives.

As well as the 16 residential units on site, there is a healthcare centre, gym, library, workshop complex, visits hall, chaplaincy and kitchen. The prison’s capacity stands at 1,460, holding adult men both on remand or sentenced and young prisoners between the ages of 18-21 years.

For more information on working in Justice within Sodexo please see Careers in Justice

Role Responsibility

• Create and maintain a profile of the prison population and its library, reading and information needs.
• Develop the library learning and information service in relation to the population profile
• Provide trolley services to various areas in the prison to issue and collect stock
• Provide ad hoc support for offenders engaged in learning
• Contribute to prisoners individual learning plans and records of achievement
• Provide access to information on a range of topics relating to learning and skills acquisition, reading advice, housing, benefits etc
• Encourage use of public libraries upon release
• Provide a request service, drawing on external sources of supply as necessary
• Establish a stock of materials that reflect the prisoner population. Ensuring the service meets the needs of ethnic minority groups, the visually impaired and those with reading difficulties
• Ensure the mandatory and reference publications are available
• Create and maintain appropriate records of stock and equipment
• Market and publicise the library, learning and information service to prisoners
• Establish efficient routines and procedures for the effective running of the library
• Induct staff and offenders to the services available in the library
• Support the work of, and liaising with, other relevant departments within the prison
• Promote and encourage reading
• Arrange the appropriate training for prisoner library orderlies
• General administrative duties

The Ideal Candidate

Essential

• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• A high literacy level and good IT skills
• Ability to use initiative and imagination to maintain and improve library services
• The ability to motivate others and effectively problem solve

Desirable

• Recognised library qualification i.e. Level 2 is a Certificate in Libraries, Archives and Information Services
• Experience of working in a library and using a Library Management System
• Experience of frontline customer services work

Package Description

£24,420 per annum plus benefits including free parking, free meals on duty, pension and shopping discounts.

37.5 hours per week 

About the Company

In the UK and Ireland, Sodexo employs some 35,000 employees to deliver integrated facilities management services to clients at over 2,000 locations in the corporate, healthcare, education, leisure, defence and justice sectors. With an annual turnover of over £1bn, we provide everything from catering, cleaning and reception to security, laboratory and grounds maintenance services, enabling our clients to focus on their core business.

We are building on our support to the Armed Forces community through the development of specific pathways within our recruitment process to  support ex-forces personnel and reservists, those applying for jobs with us who meet the ideal candidate criteria for the role advertised are guaranteed to progress to the selection process.

Sodexo and our clients are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults within a regulated activity. Certain roles will require applicants to undergo screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and/ or Disclosure Scotland.