Full job description22135 - Operational Support OfficerGeneral InformationSalary

£25,582

Working Pattern

Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share

Vacancy Approach

External

Location

Carlisle

Region

North West

Closing Date

25-Sep-2026

Post Type

Permanent

Civil Service Grade

AO

Number of jobs available

1

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

22135
Descriptions & requirementsJob description
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, 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 court users; meeting members of the public, which may include 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. 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.
Please refer to the role profile attachment for more information.
Lead Criterion: Statement of Suitability. A sift based on the statement of suitability only, 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 nature of the role the minimum we could consider is 30 hours per week over 5 days.
You will be based at Carlisle County Court Courts of Justice, Earl Street, Carlisle. CA1 1DJ

This is a court-based role covering both office and courtroom environments; therefore, hybrid working will not be considered.
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. [1] You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.

References

Additional Information
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 / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) - See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended)....