Receptionist
Location: Oxford
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 37 hours per week
Contract Duration: Until end of October 2025

Brook Street is currently recruiting on behalf of a government client for the position of Receptionist based in Oxford. This is a fantastic opportunity to work within a vital public service and play a key role in supporting the day-to-day operations of the Probation Service.

Key Responsibilities:

Front Desk & Visitor Management:
Act as the first point of contact for the Probation Service, welcoming people on probation and visitors professionally. Manage face-to-face, telephone, and email enquiries, log arrivals and departures, issue visitor passes and security fobs, and ensure relevant staff are notified.
Safety, Security & Situational Awareness:
Use observation skills and situational awareness to de-escalate potentially volatile situations. Identify when to involve management or emergency services. Be alert to safeguarding concerns and take appropriate action such as notifying staff and updating relevant systems.
General Enquiries & Signposting:
Provide basic information about the Probation Service and direct individuals to local support services (e.g. food banks). Refer more complex queries to the appropriate manager.
Facilities & Logistics Management:
Manage incoming/outgoing mail, order office supplies and PPE, handle deliveries, coordinate room and desk bookings, and support meeting and event logistics.
Petty Cash & Travel Support:
Distribute bus fares and travel warrants to people on probation. Manage petty cash and transport funds securely between probation sites.
Health, Safety & Security Compliance:
Support building security procedures including fire and panic alarm testing, CCTV monitoring, and evacuation drills. Act as a key holder, Fire Warden or First Aider where required, and assist with risk assessments when trained.Skills & Requirements:

Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to remain calm and professional in challenging situations
Organised with attention to detail
Basic IT skills and ability to use internal systems
Previous reception or customer-facing experience preferredIf you're a reliable, proactive individual who thrives in a people-focused environment, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today to join a team that makes a real difference in your community.

Brook Street is 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