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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Library Assistant

The closing date is 09 November 2025

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Job summary

Interview will be held on 18th Nov 2025

Are you a highly organised person with strong IT andcustomer service skills with a passion for helping others access information? Or do you have experience of library services and using online systems?

We're looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Library Assistant to join our Library and Knowledge Services (LKS) team supporting NHS staff and students across all our physical and mental health services within Berkshire.

This is a part-time (22.5 hours/week) post working flexibly both on-site at Prospect Park Hospital library and remotely via home working. The postholder will be required to work a full day on-site on Fridays with some flexibility around the remaining days and hours.

Main duties of the job

o Lead on answering enquiries into the shared email inbox

o Managing the physical library resources and equipmento Ensuring the proper management and maintenance of library e-resourceso Assisting in marketing and promotion

o Managing inter-library loans

o Assisting with stock management

o Providing basic IT training and support to library users

o Maintaining databases, spreadsheets and library statistics

oLearning and contributing to the development of our library services

The team are committed to quality improvement and have a strong customer service ethos. You will have the opportunity to contribute to Trust-wide initiatives and collaborative working across the NHS South region in line with the NHS Knowledge for Healthcare Framework.Proficiency in Microsoft Office / general IT skills are essential. Familiarity with relevant library and NHS legislation is desirable. Prior experience in searching databases, retrieving information and working in a library environment is advantageous.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of the LKS team supporting both clinical and non-clinical colleagues to provide exceptional healthcare to patients and carers.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust sites

Details

Date posted

20 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

Part-time

Reference number

371-CS306-A

Job locations

Library Services , Prospect Park Hospital

Reading

RG30 4EJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. Experience of customer service work, with a focus on managing enquiries across various platforms

2. Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate succinctly, clearly and accurately verbally and in writing

3. Well organised and systematic approach to work

4. Educated to A level or equivalent standard

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Ben Innes-Dickinson on 0118 960 5012 or email: ben.innesdickinson@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

1. Experience of customer service work, with a focus on managing enquiries across various platforms

2. Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate succinctly, clearly and accurately verbally and in writing

3. Well organised and systematic approach to work

4. Educated to A level or equivalent standard

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We're committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Ben Innes-Dickinson on 0118 960 5012 or email: ben.innesdickinson@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • GCSE Grade 4-9 in English Language and Mathematics or equivalent qualifications.
  • Educated to A level or equivalent standard.

Desirable

  • Library and Information Science apprenticeship level 3 or equivalent.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of customer service work including handling enquiries.

Desirable

  • Experience of library and information work or a related information service.
  • Familiarity with library management systems or information retrieval systems.
  • Experience of using journal databases and library electronic resources.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate succinctly, clearly and accurately verbally and in writing.
  • Well organised and systematic approach to work.
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • GCSE Grade 4-9 in English Language and Mathematics or equivalent qualifications.
  • Educated to A level or equivalent standard.

Desirable

  • Library and Information Science apprenticeship level 3 or equivalent.

Previous Experience

Essential

  • Experience of customer service work including handling enquiries.

Desirable

  • Experience of library and information work or a related information service.
  • Familiarity with library management systems or information retrieval systems.
  • Experience of using journal databases and library electronic resources.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Good interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate succinctly, clearly and accurately verbally and in writing.
  • Well organised and systematic approach to work.

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

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Library Services , Prospect Park Hospital

Reading

RG30 4EJ


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Library Services , Prospect Park Hospital

Reading

RG30 4EJ


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Library and Knowledge Service Manager

Ben Innes-Dickinson

ben.innesdickinson@berkshire.nhs.uk

01189605012

Details

Date posted

20 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

Part-time

Reference number

371-CS306-A

Job locations

Library Services , Prospect Park Hospital

Reading

RG30 4EJ


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)