Operational Support Officers

Ministry of Justice; Watford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Court-based role

Job summary

HM Courts & Tribunals Service in Watford is seeking Operational Support Officers to provide excellent customer service and administrative support to court users, judiciary and management. The role is based in the courtroom and includes admin duties to help court proceedings run smoothly.

You will work as part of a team, progressing cases and maintaining service standards. Duties include handling papers, updating records, and communicating with stakeholders in a fast-paced court environment.

Qualifications

• Strong customer service skills in a service-led environment.
• Good digital and administrative skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent communication in person, phone, email and writing.
• Resilient and empathetic handling sensitive information.
• Team player; flexible to deliver HMCTS objectives.

Responsibilities

• Prepare papers and files for court, tribunals and meetings with sensitive data.
• Create and update court records digitally and interpret required information.
• Communicate with the public, judiciary and other agencies.
• Support smooth court proceedings and prepare rooms for hearings.
• Be the first point of contact for court users when required.

Skills

Customer service

Digital skills

Administrative skills

Communication

Teamwork

Job description

Our Operational Support Officers play a critical role, providing excellent customer service and administrative support to court and tribunal users, judiciary and management., The role is primarily based within the courtroom, supporting the smooth running of court proceedings. Administrative duties will also be incorporated into the post.

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.

Duties undertaken within the Court may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Speak publicly and manage courtroom proceedings.
• Court usher duties which include preparation and management of a courtroom by communication with court users (members of the public).
• Ensuring court video link technology is prepared and working correctly.
• Communication with stakeholders and professionals including Police, Probation Service and Solicitors.
• Administration work including pre and post court functions.

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.

Further details:

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 requirements of the role, a minimum working pattern of three days per week is required for positions at Watford and Slough.

Reading Magistrates' Court - This is a business-critical role with standard full-time working hours of 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday).

• 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.

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.