Hours: 23 Hours Per Week
Term: Contracted for 6 months from start date
Interview Date: 20th July 2026
Closing Date: 26th June 2026
Salary: Hay Band A (£34,433 - £39,152 FTE)
**Once you have submitted your application, please email [email protected] with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**
We are looking for an enthusiastic and self-motivated individual to be our Early Years and Bookstart Officer.
Managing a team of 2 direct reports you will lead the development and delivery of early literacy programmes for children aged 0 - 4 and their families. You will manage the Bookstart programme in Nottinghamshire to ensure it is delivered to national standards and reaches every eligible child.
You will work collaboratively with colleagues across Inspire and Nottinghamshire County Council, and with health and education partners, to maximise the programme’s impact and ensure services maintain the quality of the Inspire offer. You will monitor and evaluate service performance and impact against agreed targets.
With knowledge of child development and an understanding of the role of libraries in supporting early language, literacy and lifelong learning you will co-ordinate and manage work with children and their families in libraries and in the community. Recent experience of work with young children and their families in a library, education or childcare setting is essential.
You will have excellent communication and customer care skills, organisational abilities and an enthusiasm and commitment to the ethos and principles of Bookstart and the public library service.
Working 23 hours per week including occasional weekend working, the postholder will be based at Mansfield Central Library, with home working supported. The post involves countywide travel to libraries and community venues (predominantly Ashfield, Mansfield & Bassetlaw districts).
Interviews will take place on Monday 20th July at Inspire HQ, Glaisdale Parkway, Nottingham, NG8 4GP.
Inspire is committed to applying its Equality Policy at all stages of recruitment and selection. The selection process will be carried out without regard to disability, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, age, pregnancy and maternity or trade union membership.
For further details and to arrange an informal discussion, please contact Carolyn Gallagher [email protected].
Job Description
Job Title: Early Years and Bookstart Officer
Hay Band A
Job Purpose
To lead the delivery and development of early literacy programmes across the county for children aged 0 - 4 years old, their families and carers.
Key Responsibilities
- Management of the county wide Bookstart programme to ensure it is delivered to national standards and requirements.
- To lead on the planning and implementation of reading and literacy programmes for under 5s to develop new audiences, encourage the use of library resources and promote the value of literacy.
- To work collaboratively with colleagues in Inspire, Nottinghamshire County Council and partners in health and education to develop and deliver services and maintain the quality of the Inspire offer.
- To monitor and evaluate service performance and impact in relation to services to under 5's against targets and provide intervention where appropriate.
- To create and contribute to relevant plans, ensuring the setting and delivery of appropriate targets and standards.
- To be an authoritative source of advice on services, policies and processes for library services to under 5's.
- To develop and deliver training for library staff and partners eg Health Visitors to ensure the effective delivery of library services to under 5s and their families and the Bookstart Programme.
- The post holder will work in accordance with all Inspire policies and procedures, Inspire Brand guidelines, contractual requirements, and professional best practice.
- The post holder will perform any duties or tasks assigned by management required to meet service needs as appropriate to the role.
Education and Knowledge Required for the role
- Professional qualification specifically relevant to work with early years children at National Qualifications Framework / Framework for Higher Education Qualifications level 5 or above or Graduate/postgraduate qualification in librarianship/information science.
- Knowledge of child development, particularly early literacy and language development including knowledge of government strategy for early years.
- Knowledge of the range of library services and understanding of the role of libraries in promoting early language literacy skills and lifelong learning.
- Knowledge and understanding of Bookstart, its purpose and ethos.
- Understanding of Safeguarding responsibilities
Skills and Experience
- Experience of providing a service at a senior level to pre-school children and their parents/carers in an early years, library or education setting.
- Experience of planning and delivery of services, leading staff and managing resources and performance.
- Experience of customer focused service delivery.
- Experience of working with partners.
Role Dimensions
- Responsible for the delivery of Bookstart in Nottinghamshire.
- Financial responsibility of delegated budgets of £10K.
- Management responsibility for the Early Years Team comprising 2 direct reports.
Inspire Competencies
Customer Service (Competency Level 3)
- Demonstrates effective customer service skills – in person, online, email or on the phone - identifies and satisfies customer needs, adjusting their style with a friendly and professional approach as appropriate for the customer, respecting confidentiality, equality & diversity and prioritises the customer over tasks where appropriate
- Responds positively to customer concerns, acts to resolve or reassure customers as needed, agrees solutions with the customer or hands over to an appropriate colleague
- Responds positively to any complaint or suggestion and seeks to resolve it within limits of their authority or hands over to a more senior manager as appropriate
Deliver the service offer (Competency Level 4)
- Knows and/or accesses information to advise and promote the Inspire Service Offer to all customers – to meet their immediate needs and other services that could be of interest or benefit them
- Embraces any changes to the offer and any associated changes to processes or working practices positively, takes responsibility for their own development and engages with and makes the most of development opportunities provided
- Shares feedback about the Inspire offer with their line manager and contributes to meetings, discussions and related activities to ensure service delivery and/or improve our offer
- Leads work to develop, enhance or create new elements of the Inspire service offer and where appropriate ensure there is an integrated customer offer and journey
Communicating well (Competency Level 3)
- Communicates clearly and effectively in person, on the phone and in writing respectfully and in a style appropriate to the person and situation and uses and engages with Inspire’s online communications
- Communicates effectively in a meeting or other group situation, respectfully and in a style appropriate to the group and situation with a solutions-based / can-do approach
- Debates, positively challenges and/or discusses issues with colleagues and line manager, sharing views and acknowledging and respecting the views of others, seeks to reach agreement and respects the final decision made
Working together (Competency Level 4)
- Adopts a friendly, helpful, supportive and respectful manner when working with others
- Acts in a way that shows they are trustworthy, reliable and transparent in their dealings with others, respecting privacy and confidentiality as appropriate
- Forms positive and effective working relationships, makes and implements decisions fairly, using good judgement and with integrity, in line with Inspire values and role modelling Inspire management and leadership behaviours
- Forms and maintains effective internal and external working relationships across the organisation, with external partners, stakeholders and funding organisations, motivated by achieving the best for our customers and in the best interests of all concerned
Managing others (Competency Level 3)
- Effectively supervises and supports the day-to-day activities of a colleague(s) to enable them to perform their duties, planning and co-ordinating the activity of colleague(s) to deliver tasks or activities over time to meet service demand effectively and efficiently
- Manages and reviews performance and attendance of individuals effectively, setting goals, agreeing targets, and organises training as needed, tackling poor performance or attendance if required using Inspire policies
- Manages their team and indirect teams effectively, empowering them to perform well, monitoring group performance against service targets and acting proactively and positively in response to performance data to ensure service delivery targets are met
Leading the way (Competency Level 3)
- Incorporates the spirit of Inspire’s mission, vision and values in the work they do with customers, colleagues and stakeholders, plays their part in implementing Inspire policies and procedures and management decisions
- Articulates and shares Inspire’s mission, vision and values to enthuse and focus the efforts of colleagues
- Contributes to the decision-making process, stands by decisions made and owns them when implementing them
Working efficiently and cost effectively (Competency Level 3)
- Uses Inspire resources and their time effectively to meet service demand, objectives and/or targets
- Plans ahead, making best use of time and resources available to achieve service delivery, maximising the use of technology available, minimising unnecessary travel or waste, prioritising work and working within spending limits
- Resolves competing or conflicting demand for resources and time effectively to meet the needs of themselves, colleagues and customers
Skills and qualifications (Competency Level 5)
- Experienced Qualified (3 years or more): Foundation Degree and post grad service specific qualification or relevant HND
**Once you have submitted your application, please email [email protected] with your name, vacancy title and application reference so that we can check that your application has been received**
