17725 - Operational Support Officer in Preston

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.
• You will be adaptable, able to multi‑task and effectively carry out a variety of duties.
• 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.
• Preparing 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.

Further Details

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.

Location

This post is for a Tribunal Court Clerk based at Preston Sessions House (PR1 2PD) with regular travel to Lancaster (LA1 1XZ) each week. There will also be occasions when you will be expected to cover Blackburn, Blackpool and Burnley Tribunal Courts.

Tribunals

Tribunals are specialist courts whose judges and members hear a wide range of cases, such as tax, employment, and immigration and asylum. Tribunals often sit as a panel, incorporating a legally qualified Tribunal Judge as well as panel members with specific areas of expertise. Some tribunals have limited powers to impose fines and penalties or to award compensation and costs. This post is to provide support to Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) hearing where tribunal decisions might result in the allowance or disallowance of a benefit, leave or refusal to stay in the UK, or the extent of provision of special educational help for school‑age children.

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.