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Coroners Officer

Employer
Essex County Council
Location
England, Essex, Chelmsford
Salary
£24500 - £28261 per annum
Closing date
1 Jun 2021

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Sector
Corporate Services, Customer Services
Job role
Operative
Contract Type
Contract

Please note this is a fixed term contract for 12 months.

Our staff are continuing to work remotely due to Covid but we are usually office based at SEAX House, Chelmsford. However, if there is essential work related to the role then staff members will be required to attend the office.

Job Purpose

We are currently seeking a Coroner's Officer to join our team on a 12 month fixed term basis, to represent the interests of HM Coroner for Essex by providing an investigative service and assisting in the execution of the Coroner's legal and public protection duties, in accordance with the Coroners Justice Act 2009.

With demonstrable Coroners Service experience, you will receive information of sudden, violent, suspicious or unnatural deaths for which no death certificate has been issued. You will assess, analyse and make recommendations to the Coroner as to the appropriate action in accordance with the Coroners & Justice Act 2009 and the Coroners (Amendment) Rules 2004 as well as represent the interests of HM Coroner for Essex by providing an investigative service and assisting in the execution of the Coroner's legal and public protection duties, in accordance with the Coroners & Justice Act 2009.

Key Accountabilities

  • Establish contact with relatives of the deceased and their representatives and keep them informed of procedures and progress.
  • o investigate causes of death by obtaining written statements and collating and assembling evidence from police officers, medics, health and safety inspectors and other authorities.
  • Arrange for removal of the body by following the Coroner's procedure and arrange for identification of the deceased and ensure that the property of the deceased is dealt with.
  • To make arrangements for post mortems and review post mortem reports.
  • Prepare relevant paperwork.
  • Ensure that the body is released to the appropriate party as soon as possible.
  • To work with the Coroner to ensure inquests are organised.
  • To supervise and attend inquests, act as usher, administrating all oaths and attestations.
  • Ensure all parties understand fully what is happening and when appropriate give evidence.
  • To ensure that deaths involving UK citizens abroad are investigated correctly when the body arrives within the Coroner's jurisdiction.
  • To provide training and guidance on the work of the Coroner's Service to health service workers and other organisations.
  • To participate and support contingency planning and testing and carry out other reasonable duties as required including those necessary to support the Council's and Coroner's services in the event of an emergency to maintain business continuity

Knowledge, skills and experience

  • Educated to higher education standard, or equivalent by experience
  • Experience of working within a Coroners Service or demonstrable experience in a related sector
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to deal with senior people, including; Consultants, GPs, Pathologists and legal representatives with discretion and judgement
  • Excellent communication skills both written and oral, including the ability to deal with distressed bereaved families.
  • Experience of working across boundaries in situations which involves close liaison with other agencies
  • The ability to communicate clearly with a wide ranging stakeholder group, including consultants, Pathologists, GPs and bereaved families.
  • The capacity to absorb a variety of information quickly and re-interpret as necessary
  • The ability to withstand significant and unanticipated pressure
  • The ability to deal diplomatically and tactfully with bereaved families, treating them with dignity and respect at all times.
  • Understands and is sensitive to social, cultural and racial differences.
  • The ability to deal with highly sensitive situations and the stress of communication with bereaved families.
  • Required to be flexible as there is a necessity to work some unsociable hours

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