Operational Support Officer in Bedlington

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. If you are interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

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.

• 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 accurately required on a court file.
• Communicating with the Public, the Judiciary, other Court and Tribunal Users and Representatives of other Agencies and Organisations.
• 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.
• Prepare court/hearing rooms, as well as ensuring the court runs efficiently.

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.
• Able to communicate confidently in person, over the telephone, digitally and in written communications.
• Resilience and empathy to be able to deal with sensitive information and situations.
• A team player; able to work collaboratively and flexibly to deliver business objectives.

Location:

• X1 post at Gateshead Magistrates – Warwick Street, Gateshead, NE8 1DT
• X1 post at North Tyneside Magistrates – Tynemouth Road, North Shields, NE30 1AG
• X2 posts at Teesside Magistrates – Victoria Square, Middlesbrough, TS1 2AS.
• X1 post at Mid and South‑East Northumberland, Schalksmuhle Road, Bedlington, NE22 7LX

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, where possible, from home. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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 one 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 directly to senior management.

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. Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave. Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Disability Confident: As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is 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.

Recruitment & EEO: We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.

Security Checks: DBS Basic checks required.