Sandwell Council is seeking to appoint two new Assistant Coroners to support the Senior and Area Coroner across the full range of coroner duties to deliver a high-quality coroner service to the people of the Black Country.  We would like to recruit one post to an experienced Assistant Coroner and one post to a person considering their first judicial appointment.  

We are looking for exceptional candidates with excellent proven organisational, management and efficiency skills, as well as experience of exercising sound judgement and communicating effectively. You will work closely with the Senior Coroner and Area Coroner to ensure value for money, performance and financial efficiencies. 

You will be required to demonstrate knowledge and experience of coroner law and of basic medicine, have proven skills in conducting investigations and an understanding of court procedure. You will also need to demonstrate the excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary to deal with sensitive situations.  

The successful candidate will be required to carry out the duties and responsibilities of a coroner as defined in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and associated rules and regulations and as further described in various guidance issued by the Chief Coroner.

These are fee paid positions although they are likely to involve a regular commitment, which is to be agreed between the assistant coroner, senior coroner and the local authority. You will be expected on occasion to be available to assist on an out of hours rota system.   

It is a Coroner’s personal responsibility (and not that of his/her clerk/secretary) to ensure that they sit when possible.  The Chief Coroner and the Lord Chancellor would expect an assistant coroner to offer a minimum of 20 sitting days each financial year. However, it is recognised that there is a variance of workload in each area.

The successful candidate will be a barrister or a solicitor or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition which means they will have 5 years of experience whilst holding that qualification. They will be under the age of 70 and be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (s.23 and Schedule 3).

If you wish to have an informal discussion or arrange a visit, please contact Margaret_Collins@sandwell.gov.uk  or telephone: 01215697200

Hours

As these are fee paid positions the Assistant Coroner will work on days and times as agreed with the senior coroner.

This advert will close as soon as sufficient applications are received. Therefore, you are strongly advised to complete and return your application as soon as possible. When completing your application please refer to the supporting documents attached. 

If you have a disability and require assistance in making an application, or have experienced a problem whilst applying for a position, please contact the Resourcing Team on 0121 569 3300 or via e-mail to: hr_resourcing@sandwell.gov.uk

Supporting documents
Assistant Coroner Candidate Pack