Librarian-Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre

Librarian

Location: Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre, DH8 6QY
Salary: Competitive plus excellent benefits
Schedule:  40 hours per week

Ready to impact a better future?

As a Librarian within our Justice and Immigration division, you’ll be responsible for delivering a high‑quality, inclusive library service that supports education, rehabilitation and wellbeing. You’ll ensure residents have access to a broad range of learning, legal and recreational resources, while promoting reading, literacy and independent learning.

This is a meaningful role where your professional expertise, creativity and commitment to inclusion will make a real difference to the lives of those using the service.

What you’ll do as a Librarian

You’ll be entrusted to:

• Ensure all residents are aware of and can access the full range of library resources, including books, newspapers and periodicals.
• Deliver library inductions, workshops and information sessions for prisoners and staff.
• Promote library services and encourage engagement across the centre population.
• Work closely with the education department to support curriculum needs with appropriate stock and learning materials.
• Ensure inclusive provision for ethnic minorities, foreign national residents, the visually impaired and those with additional learning needs.
• Plan and develop library and e‑learning services, including carrying out user satisfaction surveys.
• Ensure residents have access to the main library at least once a week, in line with contractual requirements.
• Provide access to reference and legal materials in line with policy and guidance.
• Support colleagues in the day‑to‑day operation of a high‑quality library service.
• Identify, catalogue and classify books, e‑books, journals and other materials.
• Assist with the creation of promotional and publicity materials for the library.
• Ensure compliance with contractual requirements.

Does this sound like you?

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

• Experience working with people who have diverse learning needs.
• The ability to engage and motivate hard‑to‑reach users.
• Experience training and supporting small groups.
• Confidence using a range of IT systems and software applications.
• Strong organisational, planning and time‑management skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Additional responsibilities

All Serco colleagues are required to:

• Identify and report health, safety and environmental hazards promptly.
• Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and procedures.
• Commit to ongoing training and personal development.
• Engage fully with performance and development reviews.
• Maintain professionalism, confidentiality and appropriate boundaries at all times.
• Comply with all Serco, HMPPS and SPS policies and procedures.

Vetting and checks:

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.

This role also requires CTC clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. This will include detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

Discover all you need to keep growing

We’re one of the top 1% of international employers, so you can be confident you’ll be part of a supportive organisation that values learning, inclusion and continuous improvement. You’ll have opportunities to develop professionally while delivering a service that genuinely supports rehabilitation and positive outcomes.

What we offer

• Holidays: 25  days plus bank holidays
• Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Training and development: Role‑specific training and continuous professional development
• 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 growth

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.