Area Coroner for the County of Cheshire

Salary £80,000 (+ 5.5% pension supplement)

Warrington Borough Council, as relevant   authority for the Cheshire Coronial Area and in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire East Council and Halton Borough Council, is seeking to appoint a new full time Area Coroner to take up post on 6th February 2017.
The number of reported deaths during 2016 was 5224 and the Coroner’s Office held 795 inquests. Accordingly this is a full-time position.
The salary will include a 5.5% salary supplement should the appointee join the Local Government Pension Scheme.

The Area Coroner will be based in the coroner’s office at West Annexe, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1UH. Office opening hours are 8.30am-4.30pm Monday to Thursday and 8.30am-4pm Friday. Additionally the Area Coroner will be required to sit at a variety of locations throughout the county.

The Councils in Cheshire are looking for an exceptional candidate with excellent proven skills.  In conjunction with the Senior Coroner you will work closely with the local authority to ensure value for money, performance and financial efficiencies. Collaborative working with the local authorities, the police and other stakeholders is essential. You will have significant and recent experience of Coroner law and procedures either from experience of working as a Coroner (Area or Assistant) or appearing as an advocate in complex Coroner cases. The Area Coroner is an independent judicial office holder, who is appointed by the relevant authorities, but is not an employee of the Councils.

You will have a sound knowledge of all aspects of the English legal system with particular regard to Coroner 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. The Cheshire Coroner Area places great emphasis on time and cost efficiency and effective case and court management skills. Accordingly you will have a proven track record in these areas. 

Your exceptional communication and interpersonal 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 able to work closely with Alan Moore who takes up his post as Senior Coroner on 10th March 2017 on the retirement of Nicholas Rheinberg. You will recognise the importance of your continuous professional development (CPD) and that of all who work in the service.

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 on a 5 year basis. 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). 

The candidate information pack and application form are available as an attachment on our website www.warrington.gov.uk/jobs
If you wish to have an informal discussion or arrange a visit, please contact Professor Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of Warrington Borough Council, on 01925 442165

Closing date: 16th November 2016