Essex County Council is seeking to appoint a new Area Coroner to bring additional capacity to the existing Essex coronial team. This is an exciting opportunity to become a full-time independent judicial office holder and to work closely with an experienced coronial team which cover a broad and complex geographical location, supporting the Senior Coroner and collaborating between Area Coroners.
Job summary and Responsibilities
The Area Coroner will work closely with the Senior Coroner to provide judicial leadership to the coroner team as well as conducting their own coroner investigations and inquests. The Area Coroner may be nominated deputy for the Senior Coroner when the senior coroner is absent. The Area Coroner will be expected on occasion to be available out of hours on a rota-based system.
Home to 1.4 million people, Essex is the second most populated English county and one of the busiest Coronial Areas in the UK. As a broadly diverse area that benefits from an unspoilt coastline and countryside, desirable market towns, dynamic working opportunities and a varied social and cultural life, the county offers something for everyone. Home to major urban areas including Basildon and Harlow and nationally important infrastructure such as Stansted Airport, the work we do at Essex County Council is both complex and highly interesting. Chelmsford is only 40 mins from London via train, and our facilities include 3 courtrooms including new offices and court accommodation.
We take our responsibilities to our local population very seriously in both life and death. As such, we are committed to providing a sector-leading, compassionate coronial service – and it is here that you could play a vital part in our duties. We are currently looking for an organised individual with good investigative skills to work closely with the coronial team, including the Senior Coroner and Area Coroners, delivering a high-quality and efficient service, that is recognised as a centre of excellence for best practice. For an ambitious and experienced professional this is an excellent opportunity to lead change to improve service delivery and make a difference for the people of Essex.
Essex is a busy Coroner service; the number of reported deaths pa was 6597 in 2021. This is a significant number of reported deaths, due to the geographical size of the jurisdiction as well as its make-up, with a combination of major urban areas as well as rural components and means that Essex is amongst the largest coroner areas in England and Wales.
You 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.
To view the full role recruitment pack, please click here
Knowledge, skills and experience
To excel in this role, you must be a Barrister, Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive and satisfy the judicial appointment eligibility condition on a five-year basis. You will be under the age of 70 and subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (s.23 and Schedule 3). You will also need to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the relevant legislation and you will be adept at holding complex inquests. With well-developed communication skills, you will be able to handle sensitive situations.
In turn, we can offer a desirable benefits package, plus the chance to join a progressive team that will welcome your input. We are always keen to improve the service that we offer and explore new opportunities and better ways of working – making for a particularly fulfilling working life. With the backing of friendly colleagues and a senior management team who will help you excel in the role, you will find a solid work/life balance. So, join us in this progressive role, and share your expertise with a team who are committed to excelling in all that they do.
To discuss this post informally, or for more information as to how to apply please contact Danielle.foster@essex.gov.uk
How to apply:
Please note that the selection interviews are planned to be in County Hall, Chelmsford.
Closing Date: 16th March 2022, midnight.
Proposed Interview Date: 28th April 2022.
To apply please click here https://www.workingforessex.com/apply/hm-area-coroner-6357
Ref: 6357
Equal Opportunities
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity is key to our success.
Notification
The vacancy for this post has been notified to the Chief Coroner and Lord Chancellor (as required by statute).
