Salary
£25,555 per annum
Contractual hours
35
Basis
Full time
Region
Lothian and Borders
Package
Full SCTS Benefits Package
Date posted
24/06/2025
Job reference
REQ00907
Joining SCTS means that you are joining an organisation that plays a key role in the administration of justice. We fulfil our purpose by providing the people, buildings and services needed to support the judiciary, the courts, devolved tribunals and the office of the public guardian (OPG). Our work focuses on improving access to justice, reducing delay and cost within the justice system, modernising our services in line with reform, and using leading technology to improve our services for everyone.
Outline of the role:
The main role of the Court Officers is to prepare their court, escort the Sheriff to/from court and attend to the Sheriff’s requirements in court. Court Officers assist in ensuring their court is conducted in an orderly manner, working closely with the Clerk, Police Officer and GEOAmey to ensure the decorum and efficiency of the court is maintained. They are responsible for productions in court and they also collect witnesses from the witness rooms and bring them into court. They have a great involvement in the use of Court Information Technology during proceedings and liaise with other Court users of the court you would be based in.
The key responsibilities include:
- Undertakes reception duties, providing a high quality service by dealing effectively with incoming phone calls, court users and contractors.
- Checks in witnesses attending court and directs to appropriate witness rooms and liaises with Witness Services as required.
- Undertakes general duties within court, including calling of witnesses, handling of productions, escorting the Sheriff to and from court, liaising with witnesses and jurors as required to keep them informed of the ongoing proceedings and assisting with CCTV evidence cases.
- Helps to ensure security and appropriate standards of behaviour are maintained within the court building.
- Carries out administrative support duties to assist the smooth running of the court offices, including filing, photocopying and distributing internal court papers.
- Messenger duties including collecting DX, Legal Post and General Post Office mail daily. Collects office mail and prepares for onward delivery to the appropriate service providers.
- To obtain reference books from the library for the Sheriffs or officials during the Court proceedings.
- To undertake light portering duties as required.
- Update court reference guides.
- Responsible for the seclusion of the jurors when considering their verdict.
- Set up audio/visual equipment and screens for cases with vulnerable witnesses.
- Reporting maintenance requirements.
- Miscellaneous duties relevant to the post and appropriate to the grade.
To help direct us towards achieving our purpose successfully, we embrace three key values of respect, service and excellence. These guide our behaviour, decisions and actions - in pursuit of fulfilling our purpose to the highest standard.
To allow prospective candidates to find out more about this exciting role, we will be holding an open evening on Tuesday 8 July from 4:30-6:30pm at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, 27 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LB.
There will be brief informal presentations at 4:45 and 5:45.
This event will allow candidates to meet some of the team, discuss the role in more detail, and ask any questions. Colleagues from the Recruitment Team will also be on hand to help with any queries regarding any part of the recruitment process.
Our benefits include:
- Flexible working arrangements
- 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days after 4 years’ service) plus 11.5 public and privilege holidays
- Special leave and paid leave for study or voluntary public service
- Excellent Civil Service Pension Scheme
- Family friendly policies
- Free and confidential Employee Assistance
- A variety of staff discounts and offers with major retailers
- Payment of professional membership fees
- Access to opportunities across all Civil Service departments that are not available to non-Civil Servants
- A supportive and professional induction programme with regular check-ins with your line manager
- Job stability and security with excellent and varied career prospects
- Security of full pay when unwell (up to a maximum of 6 months)
- Learning and development (including digital) opportunities
About SCTS
SCTS is committed to equality and diversity in employment and service delivery. The work of SCTS covers a broader range of issues than you may think. In providing support to Scotland’s courts, devolved tribunals and the OPG, we touch the lives of many people on a daily basis – be that through formal court or tribunal business, fulfilling your civic duty as a juror, paying fees or fines, seeking help in managing the affairs of an incapable adult or dealing with the estate of a loved one who has passed away. SCTS deals with over a quarter of a million cases and applications each year. Behind each one of these is an individual – looking to the system to help them assert their rights, address wrongs or provide support in a time of need. It is this work – which takes place every day in our courts, tribunals and administrative centres across Scotland – that consumes most of the time, energy and skill of our staff. We take pride in working as one team and providing high levels of service to all those who use the courts, tribunals and OPG.
Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm on 15 July 2025.
Please note that you must have completed the online assessment by this time for your application to be considered. Please see the attached documentation for further information.
Interviews will be held week commencing 28 July 2025.
The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service is exempt from the protections of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). This permits us to ask applicants details of both spent and unspent convictions, along with details of any formal cautions that you may have. Individuals without existing security clearance will always be considered as all successful applicants will require a standard level Disclosure check completed before employment can commence.
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk)
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting us at [email protected] in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner.
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