Assistant Coroners 
Salary/wage:  Daily rate £350.00  
Hours:  Minimum 15 days annually and work will be allocated on a peripatetic basis to be agreed in advance.

Rochdale Borough Council as relevant authority for the Greater Manchester North Coroner Area is seeking to appoint up to 3 Assistant Coroners initially for a term of 12 months and thereafter for a renewable term of 3 years to support the Senior Coroner and Area Coroner.  Applications are invited from suitably qualified individuals.

Greater Manchester North covers the geographical area of Rochdale, Oldham and Bury Councils with a combined population of 621,700 and has within its area 1 prison, 3 district hospitals and 2 mental health hospitals.  During 2014 the Coroner’s Office dealt with 2,618 reported deaths and 644 inquests.  However reported deaths have increased significantly in the first part of 2015.

Successful candidates will be expected to commence immediately upon appointment and will be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and consequently have satisfied the judicial appointment eligibility condition on a 5 year basis.  Whilst experience as a coroner is not essential, any applicant who has not previously held coronial office must be able to demonstrate substantial experience as an advocate at inquests or other relevant, transferable skills.  The appointee will need to be able, when required, to provide availability to deal with urgent matters, which may require attending the court at short notice and the also the potential for out of hours cover.

You will have a sound knowledge of all aspects of the English legal system with particular regard to Coronial law and the laws of evidence, the administration of the legal system and Court procedures.  Equally, you should have practical experience in the conduct of Court proceedings and will demonstrate the ability to handle highly sensitive or emotionally charged situations effectively.  Your exceptional communication skills are important.  You must have the ability to readily explain legal and medical terms to non-specialists, and you must be competent in dealing with sensitive situations involving relatives, witnesses, the police and the media. You should be willing to prepare and hear the whole range of inquests from simple cases to those fully engaging Article 2 both with and without a jury.  You will be expected to work closely with the Senior Coroner, Mr Simon Nelson and the Area Coroner, Mrs Lisa Hashmi. You will recognise the importance of continuous professional development (CPD) and your own role in your CPD and participate in training both in-house and external when required.

Applicants should complete the application form through the Council’s yourcounciljobs portal at the web address below.

The closing date for completed applications is 9th August 2015 at 11.59 pm.  Interviews will be held at Office of HM Coroner The Phoenix Centre L/Cpl Stephen Shaw MC Way (formerly Church Street) Heywood
OL10 1LR.  Interviews will take place 2nd September 2015.  For a confidential discussion concerning the post please contact Mark Dalzell, Coroners and Registrars Manager telephone 01706 924328 or mobile 07976 070933.  The successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Application Form and to provide criminal conviction information. 

For further information including information pack and job specification please visit: www.yourcounciljobs.co.uk or click the "Apply" button