Schools Library Service Librarian WCC621071

Job Details:

Salary range: £41,580 - £45,399 pro rata, per annum (actual salary £20,790 - £22,699 per annum) 
Work location: Maida Vale Library, Sutherland Avenue, W9 2QT
Hours per week: 18
Contract type: Permanent 
Vetting requirements: Enhanced DBS Check
Closing date: 25 May 2025 

About Us:

THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF KAKOLI’S PASSION AND DRIVE

Children’s Services in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. Where inspirational people like Kakoli are dedicated to encouraging everyone they work with to be the very best they can be.

Ever since she was a child, Kakoli has believed that children are the ones who’ll change the world for the better. Who’ll create the future we all wish for. And she always knew her calling was to get on the front line and help those who might not be as fortunate as herself.

Driven and passionate about making a difference, she first joined Westminster as a Social Work Assistant, and her managers immediately saw she had huge potential, so they encouraged her to apply to study for a degree in social work. She passed with flying colours, and over the next fourteen years worked as a frontline Social Worker, a Senior Social Worker, a Deputy Service Manager and is now one of our Service Managers.

Kakoli’s vision is as clear now as it was all those years ago – to encourage and support children, and help them grow in safe, vibrant communities. Her achievements are many, but she’s most proud of the fact that these days Westminster doesn’t ‘do things for families’ but ‘does things with families’. And she believes this huge but subtle difference to the way we work has allowed thousands of children in Westminster to fulfil their potential and live their dreams.

The Role:

Join our Schools Library Service and make a significant impact on literacy and learning in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and beyond. As a Librarian, you will use your expertise to support schools, helping to fostering empathy and engagement within our schools and communities.

You will be responsible for ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the Schools Library Service, which includes a range of financial and administrative tasks. Your role will involve auditing school collections as well as selecting, purchasing, classifying, cataloguing, reviewing, and monitoring resources to meet the needs of schools. You will stay updated with best practices and educational developments by attending relevant courses, conferences, and meetings.

In your advisory role, you will provide expert advice on library services, materials, information communication technology, and other learning resources. You will organize and participate in training courses for teachers, librarians, and governors, and visit school libraries to offer support. Additionally, you will promote the Schools Library Service through social media, newsletters, booklists, conferences, and events. Monitoring the service's impact on school achievement and building professional networks will also be part of your responsibilities.

Please refer to the Job Description for more information.

About You:

You should have a professional Librarianship qualification or substantial hands-on experience working in libraries. A strong dedication to your own professional development and a commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion are essential. Your excellent communication and interpersonal abilities will enable you to train and motivate colleagues and clients effectively. You should be able to collaborate on outreach projects with members of our local schools and communities.

A deep love for reading and learning, along with a passion for inspiring others, is crucial for this role. You should have a well-developed understanding of customer needs and excellent service skills. Additionally, you should be capable of lifting and moving boxes weighing up to 10kg, as there is a physical aspect to this role.

Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme, will automatically be invited to interview should they meet the essential criteria for the role.

What We Offer:

Westminster is an amazing place. We are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster. 

Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which our communities are at the heart of our decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with our communities and other partners, we can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.

At Westminster City Council, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. We encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. We champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is the Westminster Way. To find out more about how we do this visit  https://www.westminster.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health-strategy-policies-and-reports/equality-duties

As a forward thinking Council we appreciate that people work in different ways, therefore our staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.

The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application , we guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend, and we will make these wherever possible.

We reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning subject to the volume of suitable applicants.