Operational Support Officer

Proud to serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Our Admin Officers play a critical role, providing excellent administrative support and customer service to court users, judiciary and management.

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.

Your role

To provide administrative support to the magistracy across South West region.

This will encompass:

Support to Advisory Recruitment Committees – including magistrates’ recruitment, facilitating on-line interviews via Teams and working with the on-line recruitment portal ‘Affinix’. The post holder will also process magistrate retirements/resignations etc, having need to use the Magistrates Rota and the Judicial HR portal.

Support to Justices’ Training Approvals, Authorisations & Appraisal Committees – including dealing with the receipt of appraisals and applications and providing administrative support to the committees across South West region.

General Bench Support – comprising of sending out communications to the magistracy across South West region and dealing with responses appropriately.

Magistrates Rota – to provide support to the wider teams in managing the day to day running of the magistrate’s rota across South West region.

Your skills and experience

Friendly and approachable manner with excellent customer service skills.

Ability to multitask, whilst working in a fast-paced environment.

Good written and verbal communication skills.

IT proficient with the ability to learn and adapt to different technologies and software packages.

Excellent organisational skills.

Lead Criterion:
Statement of Suitability. A sift based on the statement of suitability may be held if a large number of applications are received.

The role can accommodate a hybrid approach, postholders will be subject to the current policy for hybrid working and required to work in the office for 60% of their time. Where people have reasonable adjustments, we will treat these in line with normal policies and procedures to consider what adjustments can be made.

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.

We have 1 positions available:

1 permanent contract at Taunton Magistrates/Southampton - This role is offered on a part-time basis only, requiring (27.75 hours) per week.

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…