Western

Mayo

THE ROLE

This role provides support to the judiciary, staff and members of the public who attend Castlebar Courthouse.

Key Responsibilities

Duties carried out by Service Officers include, but are not limited to:

• Facilitate the smooth running of reception areas - the Service Officer will be required to carry out reception desk duties that involve dealing with queries and deliveries from colleagues and visitors, both in person and by telephone, in a prompt and courteous manner.
• Be part of the customer service for the courts service as often you are the first interaction the public will have with the Courts Service.
• Collection, sorting and delivery of internal and external mail to include letters, parcels, newspapers, periodicals, etc.
• Key-holder duties including opening and locking of office/courtrooms in the morning/evening/throughout the day, attending to alarm callouts*
• Covering of duties within Castlebar Courthouse to include opening and closing of the Courthouse.
• Monitoring repairs and similar issues and liaising with relevant contractors.
• Maintain log of attendees/contractors in building.
• Assist with maintaining our buildings including the raising of relevant tickets, where appropriate, to ensure issues are identified and resolved.
• Be familiar with functions and business of the Courts Service.
• Wear a uniform if supplied and to always maintain a clean and tidy appearance.
• Management of deliveries of goods/supplies.
• Perform such other duties as may be directed by the Combined Office Manager as appropriate.
• Be part of the fire evacuation team, to perform weekly fire alarm testing if required and assist in the event of a fire with the evacuation procedures
• Performing Court Assistant duties, including but not limited to: directing court users to their designated seats, ensuring fire exits remain clear and unblocked.
• Assisting in security incidents by coordinating with court Gardaí, including contacting them directly if the registrar is unavailable.
• Working closely with Combined Office Manager to identify and support any court users who may be disruptive, ensuring their concerns are addressed appropriately while maintaining a respectful and smooth court environment for all participants.

Given the nature of the role, the candidate must be capable of physical work (manual handling is a requirement and suitable training will be provided) as movement of office machinery, furniture and equipment is required.

• A key-holding allowance may be payable where the full range of key-holding duties are undertaken.

Note: The above list is intended to be a guide and is neither definitive nor restrictive. It will be subject to periodic review with the post-holder.

Essential Requirements:

• Leaving Certificate or equivalent.
• Possess a good standard of English, both spoken and written.
• Experience of working in a team.
• Experience of dealing with the public.
• Satisfactory character references.
• Adherence to relevant health and safety measures and protocols.
• Flexibility is a key element of the role and Services Officers may be assigned at any given time to perform general duties, depending on the operational requirements of Castlebar Court Office.

Candidates will be expected to demonstrate the following capabilities:

• Building Future Readiness
• Evidence Informed Delivery
• Communicating & Collaborating

Desirable

• Computer Skills to ECDL or similar level.
• Previous experience as a Service Officer or in a similar role.
• Post room experience.
• Flexibility regarding overtime would also be an advantage.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application should be made by logging into the advertisement link.

The closing date is 12noon on 16 October 2026. Applications received after the closing date and time will not be accepted.

Candidates who do not hold or do not demonstrate the skills and experience will not be called for interview.

The admission of a person to a competition, or invitation to attend an interview, is not to be taken as implying the Courts Service is satisfied such a person fulfils the requirements of the competition or is not disqualified by law from holding the position and does not carry a guarantee that your application will receive further consideration. It is important, therefore, for candidates to note that the onus is on them to ensure that they meet the eligibility requirements for the competition before attending for interview. If a candidate does not meet these essential entry requirements but nevertheless attends for interview, that candidate will be putting him or herself to unnecessary expense.

It is important to note the onus is on applicants to ensure the eligibility requirements for the competition are met before attending for interview.

The Courts Service accepts no responsibility for communication not accessed or received by an applicant.

Selection Methods

The Selection Process will involve:

• assessment of candidates, on the basis of the information contained in their CV (No more than two pages) & Cover Letter; and
• a competitive interview.

Assessment

The Courts Service will short list to select a group for interview who, based on an examination of the CV & cover letter, appear to be the most suitable for the position.

Those that demonstrate evidence at the required level will be called to interview.

Candidates with Disabilities

The Courts Service has a key role to play in attracting candidates from all sectors of society, ensuring that routes to career opportunities are accessible to all who are interested. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all candidates. If you have a disability or need reasonable accommodation made during the selection process, we strongly encourage you to share this with us so that we can ensure you get the support you need.

Reasonable accommodation in our selection process refers to adjustments and practical changes which would enable a disabled candidate to have an equal opportunity for this competition. Examples of adjustments we provide include the use of assistive technology, extra time, scribes and/or readers or a range of other accommodations.

Please be assured that having a disability or requiring adjustments will not impact on your progress in the selection process; you will not be at a disadvantage if you disclose your disability or requirements to us. Your disability and/or adjustments will be kept entirely confidential.