University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Library Assistant

The closing date is 16 October 2025

Job summary

A vacancy has arisen for the permanent post of Library Assistant at St Richards Hospital, Chichester and Worthing Hospital, Worthing.

The Library Assistant operates within a team of enquiry desk staff in the delivery of proactive frontline knowledge and library services. This requires dealing with all levels of clinical and non-clinical members as well as students on placement within the local health economy.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will carry out a wide range of tasks including staffing the enquiry desk and assisting with the document supply service and members' database. The post-holder will also be involved in hands-on IT support and the first line education of members.

Library assistants are responsible for dealing with frontline enquiries for information (in person, by post, email or telephone). This will involve the use and demonstration of information resources including printed and electronic textbooks, reports, journals and databases. More complex enquiries will be referred to the relevant K&L staff.

About us

At UHSussex (UHSx), diversity is our strength, & we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness & experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, & can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) & a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients & staff with the same compassion & empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above & beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our candidate information pack & wellbeing programme,for staff which is extensive & designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching & training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us & throughout your career we will help you to grow & develop.We hope that in choosing UHSx you are choosing a long & happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make & feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application & the start of your journey with UHSx.

Candidate Information Pack:

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

Details

Date posted

02 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

279-7096138-OCT25

Job locations

Worthing and Chichester

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

For more information see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

The job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For more information see the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

The job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding, including project work, internal job rotation and absence cover.

Person Specification

Experience/Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE Maths and English (A-C or 9-4)
  • Experience of working in a library or a similar customer care environment (or equivalent NVQ Library and Information qualification)

Desirable

  • Experience or knowledge of the NHS

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Able to communicate information to a wide range of personnel from different cultures and organisations
  • Competency and confidence in using information technology in the workplace
  • Experience of working with electronic and printed sources of information
  • The ability to judge and determine the most appropriate source of information in response to library users' diverse range of enquiries and to provide the information in a timely, accurate and suitable manner
  • Ability to provide basic instruction and training to library users on a one-to-one/group basis
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Desirable

  • Knowledge or awareness of relevant legislation, e.g. Copyright Act, Data protection and Freedom of Information

People Management and Development

Essential

  • Must be able to work in a team and be cooperative and sensitive to the needs of others

Freedom to Act

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise and plan own workload and work independently with some supervision
  • The postholder must be able to adjust their work plan in order to give priority to library users' needs

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
Person Specification

Experience/Qualifications

Essential

  • GCSE Maths and English (A-C or 9-4)
  • Experience of working in a library or a similar customer care environment (or equivalent NVQ Library and Information qualification)

Desirable

  • Experience or knowledge of the NHS

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Able to communicate information to a wide range of personnel from different cultures and organisations
  • Competency and confidence in using information technology in the workplace
  • Experience of working with electronic and printed sources of information
  • The ability to judge and determine the most appropriate source of information in response to library users' diverse range of enquiries and to provide the information in a timely, accurate and suitable manner
  • Ability to provide basic instruction and training to library users on a one-to-one/group basis
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Desirable

  • Knowledge or awareness of relevant legislation, e.g. Copyright Act, Data protection and Freedom of Information

People Management and Development

Essential

  • Must be able to work in a team and be cooperative and sensitive to the needs of others

Freedom to Act

Essential

  • Ability to prioritise and plan own workload and work independently with some supervision
  • The postholder must be able to adjust their work plan in order to give priority to library users' needs

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential

  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Worthing and Chichester

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Worthing and Chichester

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Senior Librarian: Learning & Teaching

Rosy Bennett

rosy.bennett@nhs.net

01903285025

Details

Date posted

02 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Job share

Reference number

279-7096138-OCT25

Job locations

Worthing and Chichester

Lyndhurst Road

Worthing

BN11 2DH


Supporting documents

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