Bookbus Assistant

Are you a reliable and experienced driver able to drive a large transit style van or similar vehicle with due care and attention?

Are looking for a refreshing change of pace that allows for work outside of a traditional desk setting?

Do you have experience working with children and young people?

We are looking for a dedicated Bookbus Assistant to join the Library Service team to deliver an excellent service to preschool children and staff by driving to each venue, parking safely and assisting children to get on and off the bus.

Salary: £16,783 to £17,047 per annum (pro rata for part time and calculated to term time only)

Contract Type: Permanent, Term Time Only (39 weeks plus inset days)

Working Pattern: Part time (30 hours per week) Monday to Thursday 08:30am to 3:00pm. Friday 08:30am to 12:00pm

Location: Drayton Depot, Drayton Ln, Chichester PO20 2AJ

Interview Date: Wednesday 26 March

What is term time only working? A term time only contract is for our staff who are employed to work only during periods when schools are open. Your pay is calculated on an annual basis and then you are paid over twelve equal monthly instalments.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.

About The Job

As a Bookbus Assistant for West Sussex Library Service, you will be part of a supportive and dedicated team.

It’s not just about the books! We are looking for someone who understands the power of community and models best practice in sharing stories and rhymes with children to inspire and support staff in settings.

On a day-to-day basis, you can expect to:

• Managing the workload during visits, facilitating the book lending, shelving books.
• Reading to groups of children, answering early years staff enquires and maintain a safe environment on the mobile library for all visitors.
• It’s an active role! you will be driving, carrying books, taking books from the library to stock the bus, moving around the vehicle and supporting children on the bus.
• Collecting the Bookbus from the depot in Drayton and driving to various nurseries /pre-schools, returning it to the depot in the afternoon.
• Work alongside the Bookbus Co-ordinator to share stories and rhymes with small groups of children and on a 1:1 basis.

The successful candidate must hold a valid UK driving licence including C1 and may also be required to hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) (Drivers). You will need to be aged over 21 as this is a DVLA requirement and to have held a driving licence for at least 2 years.

The successful candidate must be willing to undertake CPC training within 6 months of employment, if not held and required and also pass a driving assessment test.

If you are ready to make a positive impact by offering essential delivery services, then this role is perfect for you!

We would love to hear from you if you have:

• Full clean UK driving licence with C1 category and excellent driving skills.
• Experience of driving a Bookbus or similar sized vehicle such as a large transit van and holding a Certificate of Professional Competence (Drivers) if required. The successful candidate must be willing to undertake CPC training within 6 months of employment, (if not held and required) and also pass a driving assessment test.
• 4 GCSEs with A-C passes including Maths and English or equivalent qualification/experience.
• Experience of working confidently with children and staff in a pre-school setting.
• Strong interpersonal skills: you will have the ability to work as part of a small team completing shared tasks.

For more information on the Key Skills as well as the Qualifications and/or experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.

Further Information

The reference number for this role is CPP01052.

Does this sound like the opportunity for you? Click apply below, upload your CV, and complete the application form, explaining how you meet the key skills in the attached job description and experience you can bring to the role. Please ensure all that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.

Struggling to apply? Book onto a Digital Support Session in a library near you to get help navigating our application form (subject to availability)

Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This post is subject to right to work within the UK, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references, a valid UK driving licence, and a health check.

Equity, inclusion and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.

RSi