Senior Information Assistant

Job Description

The London Borough of Harrow is seeking a motivated and customer‑focused Senior Information Assistant to play a key role in delivering an outstanding library experience to our community. In this vital frontline position, you will welcome all library customers, take time to understand their individual needs and provide guidance, information and support that enables them to make full use of our services, resources and facilities. Throughout each customer’s visit, you will engage proactively and confidently, helping to create a friendly, inclusive and accessible library environment. This role carries additional responsibility for leading the team at a branch library whenever a Library Supervisor is not present. You will ensure the consistent delivery of high‑quality services and support colleagues in their day‑to‑day duties. Working under the direction of the Senior Library Supervisor and in close collaboration with Service Development staff, you will take an active role in promoting the library service, managing daily operations and overseeing the safety and security of the premises.

If you are passionate about community services, enjoy working with a wide range of people and are ready to take on leadership responsibilities within a dynamic public library setting, we would love to hear from you.

To be successful in this role, you would need to have the following skills & experience:

• Clear verbal communication (spoken English to be satisfactorily clear for telephone calls).
• Basic awareness of library provision to a multicultural society and people with disabilities.
• Demonstrate familiarity with computer applications including Microsoft Office software (Word as a minimum) and the internet.
• Knowledge of general library principles and methods plus awareness of social and other issues affecting public library services
• Awareness of relevant library resources (e.g. children’s books, information materials, online resources etc) as required by a diverse community
• Awareness of the importance of an enthusiasm for books and reading, for both education and recreation
• Understanding of the value of library services to children and young people
• Cash management
• Staff deployment skills, including using spreadsheets to facilitate the compilation of timetables
• Ability to deliver high quality customer care to all service users.
• Ability to stand and/or walk for periods of time.
• Mobility within a building (stairs etc).
• Ability to lift (up to 10lbs/4.536 kilos weight).

For more information, please refer to the Role Profile/Selection Criteria

About us

Harrow Council is the 12th largest London borough and one of the most culturally diverse local authorities in the UK, making it a great place to live, work and visit with a range of cultures, religions and opinions that come together to produce high achieving schools and a close and friendly community. Located 10 miles from the city centre and just 13 minutes to Euston from Harrow & Wealdstone station there are great transport links via the Metropolitan Line, Watford DC Line and national rail service. It is easily accessible to the M1, M25 and A406.

Other information

Support for candidates visit:Harrow.gov.uk Our behavioural indicators roles below G11 and above G11 Here at Harrow Council, the vision is one of 'Working together to make a difference for Harrow' Please click here to view Harrow Council's benefits

Important Note

To deliver our commitment to equality of opportunity in service provision, all staff are expected to promote equality in the workplace and in the services the Council delivers. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs at the London Borough of Harrow. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender, reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy, or maternity unless a Genuine Occupational Qualification applies. As such, we value diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds. For further information, please read our equality statement.

As a disability-confident employer, we are committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and accessible to everyone. This includes reasonably adjusting the recruitment process for those with disabilities or long-term health conditions. For further information, please contact us at resourcing@harrow.gov.uk

London Borough of Harrow is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Harrow operates stringent, safer recruitment procedures.

Due to the high number of applications received for some posts, we may close vacancies before the stated closing date if sufficient applications are received. Therefore, please apply as soon as possible.

Harrow redeployees will be given priority consideration.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, any your data protection rights, can be found by visiting www.cifas.org.uk/fpn