Operational Support Officer
Ministry of Justice
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Ministry of Justice is seeking Administrative Officers to provide essential administrative support and customer service to court users, judiciary and management. The role is based at Welshpool Magistrates' Court with hybrid working on Fridays and potential Thursday hybrid days depending on hearings and operational needs.
You will progress cases, verify documents, and maintain records while interacting with the public and legal professionals.
Qualifications
- Friendly and approachable with excellent customer service skills.
- Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- IT proficiency and ability to learn new technologies and software.
Responsibilities
- Progress cases through the court/tribunal system and provide administrative support.
- Check and verify documents, records, accounts, claims and returns against criteria.
- Create and update records on in-house computer systems and data input.
- Communicate with the Public, Judiciary, other Court and Tribunal Users and Agencies.
Skills
Tools
Job description
Our Admin Officers play a critical role, providing excellent administrative support and customer service to court users, judiciary and management.
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.
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 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.
Welshpool Court is open Monday to Thursday; the successful candidate will be expected to work on a hybrid basis on Fridays. In addition, where there are no hearings listed on a Thursday, and subject to operational requirements, hybrid working may also be accommodated on that day.
- Primary function- Resulting courts accurately, interpreting accurately the information required on a court file.
- Checking and verifying documents, records, accounts, claims and returns for approval, results, statistics, plans etc. against criteria, regulations or procedures.
- Collecting and assembling information for returns, results, accounts, statements, warrants, statistical analysis, reports, etc
- Communicating with the Public, the Judiciary, other Court and Tribunal Users and Representatives of other Agencies and Organisations
- Preparing papers and files for court, tribunals, hearings and meetings
- Creating and updating records on our in-house computer system and data input
- Friendly and approachable manner with excellent customer service skills.
- Ability to multitask, whilst working in a fast-paced environment.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies and softwarepackages.
- Excellent organisational skills.
These operational roles are customer facing, requiring successful applicants to be office based to provide HMCTS services to the public. Standard full time working hours are 37 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 considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.
The appointed candidate will be required to work five days within a six-day working week. Saturday attendance is subject to business requirements, with an alternative day off during the week to be scheduled in accordance with business requirements. Additionally, the role includes participation in a Bank Holiday rota.
From 22 July 2025, the Government increased the salary threshold and skills level for Skilled Worker visas.This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship in accordance with the current immigration rules if you looking to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa for the first time.
The Department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously since before 22 July 2025. 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 do not meet the new eligibility criteria for sponsorship (or the transitional provisions), 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.
Lead Criterion:Statement of Suitability.A sift based on the statement of suitability may be held if a large number of applications are received.
The successful candidate will undergo - Fire and Incident Control Officer training (FICO) and on occasion be Senior Person on Site (SPOS), they will also be expected to support and assist with these duties
Welshpool Magistrates' Court, Mansion House, 24 Severn Street, Welshpool, SY21 7UX
Requests for virtual interviews and alternate dates will only be considered in exceptional circumstances or as part of a reasonable adjustment.
Version in Welsh
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.
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.
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).
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.
- 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.
- The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
- The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
- 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.
- 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.
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
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.
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.
Welsh Role Profile HMCTS Operational Support Officer.docx(Welsh translated job description)
AO role profile .docx(Job Description Attachment)
Statement of Suitability
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