Operational Support Officer

Ministry of Justice; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Part-time & job-share options

Flexible working

Pension

Annual leave 25–30 days

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice invites applications for Operational Support Officers in Stoke-on-Trent. The role focuses on delivering high-quality telephone-based support to court users, backed by a structured training programme and access to SHELF guidance.

You will contribute to service standards while handling sensitive information with care. Open to flexible working arrangements, part-time and job-share options are considered.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service skills for a service-led environment.
• Good digital and administrative skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent communication across in person, telephone, digital and written channels.
• Resilient and empathetic when handling sensitive information or situations.
• Able to work collaboratively and flexibly to deliver HMCTS objectives.

Responsibilities

• Answer inbound calls from the public and legal representatives and return calls as required.
• Communicate clearly with the public, court users and partner agencies.
• Deliver high standards of customer service with empathy under pressure.
• Use email and webchat and undertake general administrative work.
• Interpret information to accurately update digital records.

Skills

Customer service

Digital & admin skills

Effective communication

Empathy

Teamwork

Job description

Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working

Vacancy Approach

External

Location

Stoke-on-Trent

Region

West Midlands

Closing Date

16-Sep-2026

Post Type

Permanent

AO

Number of jobs available

2

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

21661

Descriptions & requirements

Proud to serve. Proud to keep justice going.

OurOperational Support Officers within National Services provide excellent telephone and administrative support to court users.This position is predominately telephone-based and our training programme provides a structured yet flexible approach to building the skills required to perform this vital role.

About us

HMCourts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales.Our National Service teams offer a wide range of support which includes assisting customers via the telephone, providing digital assistance, facilitating audio and video hearings, as well as supporting case progression and court hearings.

We support multiple judications such as Social Service and Child Support, Family Public Law, Probation, Crime, Immigration and Asylum, Divorce, Online Civil Money Claims, Special Education Needs and Disability Tribunal (SEND), Mental Health Tribunal and the Single Justice Service.

We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people’s lives to deliver justice. If you are interested in developing a career with a real purpose,

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 need to be a confident communicator with the self-assurance to liaise with members of the public regarding complex and sensitive matters in a calm and professional manner. You will be supported by a Team Leader and, alongside our in-depth training programme, will have access to ‘SHELF’ (guidance document) to assist in your role.

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

• Taking inbound calls from the public and legal representatives and returning calls as required.
• Communicating effectively with the public, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations.
• Delivering a high standard of customer service, responding to enquiries with empathy and understanding, particularly in situations where individuals may be under stress or facing challenging circumstances.
• Usingemail and webchat and undertaking general administrative work.
• Interpreting information to accurately update digital records.

Your knowledge, skills and experience

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

The office is open Monday-Friday from 08:00 to 18:00.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday). Applications for part-time working will be considered, however due to the nature of the role the minimum we could consider is 30 hours per week. 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 consideredin accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Non-contractual hybrid working is currently available. Hybrid working arrangements will be determined by the business and are only relevant to particular teams, and only available when it has been established that delivering the service from home can be done effectively. We cannot facilitate requests for a particular work from home/working in the office schedule.

Location

You will be based in Stoke-on-Trent. The address is Bennett House, Town Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 2QB.

Training

There is a 1-week induction that is full time but can be worked from home, following this a full-time 7-week training academy will commence, this is office based / in person. Requests for part-time training will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will only be approved if we can establish that we can ensure you will receive the full benefit of training and that all of the learning will be consolidated within that timeframe.

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.

For this post, occasional travel will be required for cover when needed.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map . All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
• Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
• For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices .You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here )

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos .

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

AO Role profile.docx(Job Description Attachment)

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods

Statement of Suitability

Statement of Suitability

Guidance for the Statement of Suitability

Tell us what relevant skills you can bring to this role and where you have used them previously.

Evidence of Experience

Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates

Interviews are expected to take place early to mid October 2026.

Behaviours

Communicating and Influencing

Strengths

Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here .

Technical

Work simulation telephone role play.

Level of security checks required

DBS Basic

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.Please see ourcandidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.