23734 - Operational Support Officer

Ministry of Justice; Wolverhampton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) in England and Wales is recruiting Operational Support Officers to provide excellent customer service and administrative support to court and tribunal users, judiciary and management.

Based at Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court or Wolverhampton Crown Court, you will handle filings, prepare hearings, manage records, and communicate with the public and staff. The role requires flexibility, accuracy and teamwork to help courts run smoothly.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service skills in a service-led environment.
• Good digital and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Effective communication, both in person and in writing.
• Resilient and empathetic when dealing with sensitive information.

Responsibilities

• Progress cases through the court/tribunal system and provide customer service and administrative support.
• Prepare papers and files for court/tribunals and handle sensitive information.
• Create and update records digitally and communicate with court users and other agencies.
• Support the smooth running of court proceedings and assist public and staff as required.

Skills

Customer service

Digital skills

Administrative skills

Communication

Teamwork

Job description

Proud to serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Our Operational Support Officers play a critical role, providing excellent customer service and administrative support to court and tribunal users, judiciary and management.

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our court users and colleagues within HMCTS, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people’s lives to deliver justice.

Location

These posts will be based at either Wolverhampton Magistrates’ Court, North Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1RA or Wolverhampton Crown Court, Pipers Row, Wolverhampton, WV1 3LQ however there may be a requirement to travel to other Court locations within the Midlands Region to support when required for business needs.

Your training may take place at an alternative location to your base location. Advance notice and planning will be given. Additional travel costs such as mileage and train travel apply when travelling to alternative Courts. Travel will be on a rota basis once fully trained.

Your role

Working as part of a team, you will contribute to the overall operational, performance and service standard targets across your area of work. You will progress cases through the court/tribunal system and provide customer service and administrative support to functions within HMCTS. You will have regular contact with court / tribunal users, which could include members of the judiciary and the legal profession.

You will be adaptable, able to multi-task and effectively carry out a variety of duties, both office-based and in a court, which will include:

Preparing papers and files for court, tribunals, hearings and meetings including processing and handling sensitive information and accurately resulting outcomes.

Creating and updating records digitally, interpreting information required on a court file accurately.

Communicating with the public, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations

Supporting the smooth running of court proceedings, preparing court /hearing rooms and ensuring court runs efficiently.

When required, you will be an essential first point of contact for all the court users; meeting members of the public, which may include vulnerable witnesses, and their legal representatives.

Your knowledge, skills and experience

Strong customer service skills with the ability to work in a service-led customer-facing environment.

Good digital and administrative skills; with excellent attention to detail.

Effective communication and organisational skills. Able to communicate confidently in person, over the telephone, digitally and in written communications.

Resilient and empathetic to be able to deal with sensitive information and situations.

A team player; able to work collaboratively and flexibly to deliver HMCTS objectives.

Please refer to the role profile attachment for more information.

Lead criterion at application stage: Statement of Suitability. An initial sift based on the statement of suitability may be held if a large number of applications are received.

These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be court based to provide HMCTS services to the public. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday). HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Applications for part-time working will be considered however due to the nature of the role the minimum hours would be 30 hours per week over 4 days.

Skilled Worker Visa

This role is not eligible for new Skilled Worker visas in accordance with the current immigration rules.

From 22 July 2025, the Government introduced changes to the Skilled Worker visa route. The department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.

If you are applying for this role and you have not held a Skilled Worker visa prior to the 22 July 2025 changes, you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.