17740 - Operational Support Officer in Birkenhead

Proud to serve. Proud to keep justice going. Our 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.

• Prepare papers and files for court, tribunals, hearings and meetings, including processing and handling sensitive information and accurately resulting outcomes.
• Create and update records digitally, interpreting information accurately required on a court file.
• Communicate with the public, the judiciary, other court and tribunal users and representatives of other agencies and organisations.
• Act as the first point of contact for court users; meet members of the public, which may include vulnerable witnesses and their legal representatives.
• Prepare court/hearing rooms, ensuring the court runs efficiently.

Qualifications:

• 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.
• Team player; able to work collaboratively and flexibly to deliver business objectives.

Please refer to the role profile attachment for more information.

Working Hours & Patterns: 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. Applications for part‑time working would be considered; however, due to the nature of the role the minimum hours would be 30 hours per week over 5 days. Your working hours and days may vary, as the role requires occasional Saturday and/or Bank Holiday working. Your schedule will be agreed with your line manager, and when you are required to work on these days, you will receive a day off in lieu, subject to business needs. There is no requirement to work Sundays.

Roles available: There are two roles available:

• A role is based at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court (L2 1XA) with the expectation of occasional travel to Wirral and/or Sefton Magistrates’ Courts. This role will predominantly support courtroom operations.
• A role is based at Sefton Magistrates’ Court (L20 3XX) with an expectation of occasional travel to Liverpool and/or Wirral Magistrates’ Courts. This role will predominantly be office based.

Please note that the correct postcode for Sefton is L20 3XX and not L20 3BJ.

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. The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service.