Our client HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is an agency of the Ministry of Justice. HMCTS provides administrative 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 - HMCTS has a responsibility to administer a justice system that is accessible to everyone and operates efficiently.

A full time temporary 12 month assignment at The Courts as an Usher based in Reading

An enhanced DBS check is required for this role

£11.44 per hour,
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Application Requirements: If successful, candidates must provide:

• • Identification: An in-date Passport or Birth certificate.
  • Proof of Residence: Two proofs of address.
  • National Insurance: Proof of National Insurance.
  • Registration Process: Complete registration forms and provide the last three years of referencing

Job Description

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.

Although many of the tasks are straightforward, regulated by well-established guidelines and/or detailed instructions, 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. Advice and support is readily available and there is little discretion to depart from standard procedures, which may well require you to take a firm stance when those procedures are not understood or welcomed by a court user. Ushers work within a team with regular management support and are responsible for their own time.

Whilst initially you will be allocated to a specific court or office base

Key Responsibilities, but will not be restricted, 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 acknowledgement 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, fax machines, scanners, photocopiers, switchboards, franking machines, messaging equipment, tape, and video recorders etc.

Handling telephone calls

• Answering standard enquiries and passing messages to others.

Brook Street are proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all candidates who are veterans or spouses/partners of military personnel, and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy.

As a Disability Confident Leader, and holder of the Gold Award status from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, Brook Street, as a supplier to the Public Sector Resourcing Framework (PSR), will offer you a guaranteed interview with a PSR Sourcer.

Should you identify as a candidate with a disability and/or as a veteran or spouse/partner of military personnel and meet all the essential criteria for the role, we encourage you to reach out to us via the Brook Street website. Here you will find a link to register your interest and state the role that you are interested in. We are committed to engaging with you.

In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates/military spouses/partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, Brook Street will interview the best candidates from within that group.