Operational Support Officer in Barnsley

About us HMCourts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. We support court users and colleagues within HMCTS, providing access to life‑changing justice.

Your role As an Operational Support Officer you will work as part of a team to progress cases through the court/tribunal system and provide customer service and administrative support to functions within HMCTS. You will contact court and tribunal users, including members of the judiciary and the legal profession. Prepare papers and files for court, tribunals, hearings and meetings, handling sensitive information and ensuring accurate outcomes. Create and update records digitally, correctly interpreting information required on a court file. Communicate with the public, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations. Support the smooth running of court proceedings, prepare court/hearing rooms and ensure courts run efficiently. When required, serve as the essential first point of contact for all court users, including vulnerable witnesses and their legal representatives.

Your knowledge, skills and experience:

• Customer service skills; ability to work in a service‑led, customer‑facing environment.
• Digital and administrative skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Communication and organisational skills – confident in person, over the telephone, digitally and in written communications.
• Resilience and empathy to deal with sensitive information and situations.
• Team player; able to work collaboratively and flexibly to deliver business objectives.

Travel and Working Hours Occasional travel across the North East Region will be required. Standard full‑time working hours are 37 hours per week (Monday to Friday). Part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing patterns are considered where they meet the demands of the role. Minimum part‑time is 30 hours per week. The role may require occasional Saturdays and public holidays; days worked will be swapped for days off in lieu subject to business needs. Sundays are not required.

Working arrangements The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. All employees are expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity. The role can only be worked in the UK.

Benefits:

• Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years’ service.
• Pass‑through scheme to buy or sell up to three days of leave each year.
• Additional paid time off for public holidays and one privilege day.
• Leave for part‑time and job‑share posts calculated pro‑rata.
• Pension – the Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes.
• Training – extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks – employee‑run networks for minority ethnic origin, disability, caring responsibilities, women, LGBTIQ+ employees.
• Support policies – family‑friendly options (reduced hours, job share), flexible benefits, childcare vouchers or alternatives, paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave, free annual sight tests for computer‑screen users.

Equal Opportunities We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, making adjustments throughout the recruitment process and workplace. Vulnerable candidates are able to request reasonable adjustments. Please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team for assistance.

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme for eligible former Armed Forces members.

Redeployment Interview Scheme MoJ explores redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. Eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria may participate, except when applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries with the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and their family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Nationals in EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein who have made a valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under the 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

Statement of Suitability Provide a 500‑word statement demonstrating your transferable skills against the role profile: Customer Service, Digital and Administrative Skills, Attention to detail, Communication and Organisational skills, Resilience, Empathy and Teamwork. Use real‑life evidence to achieve the highest scores. All evidence must be truthful and factual. Plagiarism may lead to withdrawal.

Technical Question Using your CV, give a summary of key responsibilities from your previous experience most relevant to the Operational Support Officer position. Begin with your most recent experience and work backwards. Include job title, duration of employment and a concise overview of main duties (maximum 250 words). Avoid repeating content from your Statement of Suitability.

Interview Stage Assessments Interviews will be in person, expected at the end of July 2026.

Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace. Strengths assessment: will be carried out but not shared in advance. Level of security checks required: DBS Basic.

Use of Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence can support your application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, factual and from your own experience. Plagiarism may lead to withdrawal and disciplinary action for internal candidates.