About the job

Job summary

Please refer to Job Description

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

This is an operational role that is 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.  

Job Title: Usher

Pay Grade: AA

Who are we?

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is an agency of the Ministry of Justice. We provide support for the legal system across England and Wales, ensuring justice works for everyone. 

Our justice system defends our fundamental rights and freedoms. It is a cornerstone of our modern society and it must serve all those who call on it, when they call on it. From some of the most vulnerable people in our society, to families in crisis, claimants, and commercial businesses – we have a responsibility to deliver a Justice system that is accessible to everyone and operates efficiently.

What will you be doing?

The Court Usher acts as an essential first point of contact for all the court users involved in hearings. There will be regular contact with the judiciary, assisting the administrative staff with the smooth flow of court work. You will meet members of the public and their legal representatives; prepare court /hearing rooms, and complete documentation, as well as ensuring the court runs smoothly and efficiently.  You will also carry out some general clerical work as required to support the work of HMCTS.

What will the successful candidate look like?

An Usher needs to be prepared to react quickly and professionally to situations, some of which may be unexpected. You will be comfortable in dealing sensitively and professionally with people from all walks of life; many of whom may be vulnerable and under stress. We are looking for resilient, resourceful, and adaptable individuals who can show they have the experience required to deliver in a fast-paced organisation and can thrive in an environment that is changing constantly.

You will need strong organisational and communication skills as well as being a good team player. You will demonstrate a strong ability to prioritise workloads, adapt to changing priorities and most importantly put the customer at the forefront of everything you do.

Whilst initially you will be allocated to a specific court or office base, there will be a need for flexibility to work on an ad hoc basis at other courthouses and local HMCTS offices.

Key responsibilities may include:

Administration

·     Collecting and delivering files and bundles to the judiciary and clerks ensuring they have the necessary papers

·     Providing support to colleagues & judiciary outside of court / hearing times 

·     General clerical work, including use of computers and Switchboard

·     Filling out forms

·     Operating recording equipment and maintaining records of recordings of hearings

·     Sort and deliver lists of hearings for internal & external notice boards

Correspondence

·     Completing standard forms, etc where the information is clearly defined.

·     Straightforward drafting such as acknowledgements and receipting, confirmations, court orders, warrants etc.

Post Handling

·     Opening, sorting, distributing and dispatching post as required

·     Collecting and delivering post from appropriate offices

Monitoring Stock

·     Ensuring Court rooms are supplied against requirements for relevant forms and stationary

·     Collecting and delivering stationary around the offices

Data Entry and recording

·     Resulting, checking accuracy and completeness against guidelines or a proforma, straightforward money handling e.g. issuing jury payments, spending petty cash under instruction.

Operating equipment

·     Office and court equipment e.g. computers, scanners, photocopiers, switchboards, messaging equipment, tape, and video recorders etc.

Handling telephone calls

·     Answering standard enquiries and passing messages to others.

Arranging meetings

·     Preparing rooms for hearings, tribunals, trials, meetings and clearing the court / hearing room down at the end of the day etc.

·     Using electronic diaries

Reception of parties to court

·     Including members of the public, judiciary, juries, solicitors and barristers, the police, representatives of external Agencies etc.

·     Providing information related to proceedings, escorting court users into and from the building, swearing oaths etc.

·     Calling people into court / hearing rooms in priority order, discussing with Court Clerks and Legal Advisers and liaising with the Witness Service as necessary

·     Answering face to face enquiries

·     Keeping parties informed of changes eg, of courtrooms and hearing times

Other duties

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £21,149, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £5,625 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.