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Area Coroner for East London

Employer
Waltham Forest
Location
Waltham Forest, London (Greater)
Salary
£94,000 pa - pro rata for 3 days per week
Closing date
8 Feb 2019

View more

Practice area
Other
Contract type
Permanent
Hours
Part time
PQE
5 years, 6 years, 7 years+
Position
Solicitor
Sector
Public sector/Charities

Job Details

Area Coroner for East London

Salary £94,000 pa - pro rata for 3 days per week

London Borough of Waltham Forest is seeking to appoint an Area Coroner. This is a new post.

The number of reported deaths pa is 2,500 plus.

As Area Coroner you will work closely with the Senior Coroner to provide judicial leadership to the coroner team as well as conducting your own coroner investigations and inquests. You will be the nominated deputy for the Senior Coroner.

This appointment of an area coroner will be made on a part-time basis (3 days per week).

The salary will include payment for out of hours availability by agreement. 

The Area Coroner will be based in the dedicated court and coroner’s office in Queens Road, Walthamstow. Office opening hours are 8am-4pm.

London Borough of Waltham Forest is looking for an exceptional candidate with excellent proven leadership, organisational, management and efficiency skills, as well as experience of managing and embracing change. You will work closely with the Senior Coroner and local authority manager to ensure value for money, performance and financial efficiencies. Collaborative working with the Senior Coroner, local authority, the police and other stakeholders is essential.

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.

It is desirable that the successful candidate has proven experience of running or sharing running a coroner’s jurisdiction including carrying out investigations, case management, and conducting inquests.

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, have experience of working as an assistant coroner or  area coroner and be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (s.23 and Schedule 3).

Once a Coroner is appointed they are then a Judicial Office holder until they reach the age of 70 years (compulsory retirement age) unless they choose to resign or are removed by the Lord Chief Justice or Lord Chancellor prior to their 70th birthday.

If you wish to have an informal discussion or arrange a visit, please contact

Mark Hynes Director of governance and Law on 07790807779

Suitably qualified applicants are requested to email their CV Kate.Roberts@walthamforest.gov.uk 

Closing date: 8 February 2019

Interview date: 22 March 2019

Notification

The vacancy for this post has been notified to the Chief Coroner and Lord Chancellor (as required by statute).

CORONER SERVICE INFORMATION Area information

The East London coroner area includes an area of 174 square miles with a current population of around 1.28 million. Bordering counties are Essex, North London and Inner North London.

The number of deaths registered annually averages 7,869 with approximately 2,500 cases (31%) referred to the senior coroner.  Post mortem examinations are conducted at two public mortuaries and one hospital mortuary.  In 2017, 274 inquests were held (12%) and 1,220 post-mortem examinations (52%). The Senior Coroner is expected to aim to keep post-mortem levels to 30% of reported deaths or below.

The coroner area contains sections of the M11 motorway as well as several major A-roads, main rail lines to/from London and underground lines.

There are 4 acute hospitals, [Queen’s Hospital, King George Hospital, Whipps Cross and Newham University Hospital), as well as mental health hospitals and community services.

The area also includes the Olympic Park and London City Airport. 

Office and court accommodation

The service is located in dedicated accommodation, including offices and court in Queen’s Road, Walthamstow. The coroner’s court, which is next to the coroner’s offices, is available Monday-Friday 0800 to 1600, allowing inquests to be opened quickly with dates set for inquest hearings, usually within the required six months. The average time from opening to hearing is currently 6 months.

Staff

Nine coroner’s officers are employed by the Metropolitan Police Service. In addition there is a coroner’s officer manager. The Senior Coroner, coroner team and coroner’s officers are supported by four administrative staff employed by London Borough of Waltham Forest.

All staff are co-located with the Senior Coroner.

Management

Accommodation, contracts, tendering, finance and support staff are managed by the coroner service manager, who is employed by the Council in the Legal services team.

The coroner service manager works closely with the Senior Coroner [and the police authority responsible for coroner’s officers] on the delivery of the service to ensure those affected by the work of the coroner team receive a high quality service.

Daily operations

The Area Coroner will usually be expected to work 8 hours each working day between 8am and 4pm at the office and court accommodation at 124 Queens Road, Walthamstow. This arrangement allows the service to provide a high level of service and performance to meet the requirements of the Coroners & Justice Act 2009 and the Chief Coroner’s guidance.

The Area Coroner will be expected on occasion to be available out of hours, as agreed with the Senior Coroner.

The administrative support staff are responsible for answering incoming calls from the public on weekdays from 8am to 4pm.

The coroner team

The Area Coroner, who is an independent judicial-office holder works as part of the coroner team led by the Senior Coroner, alongside three fee paid assistant coroners. The Area Coroner is expected to be the nominated deputy in line with the Chief Coroner’s guidance. The Area Coroner will provide cover when the Senior Coroner is unavailable due to leave, sickness, training etc and as additional support (by agreement with the local authority) in office and case work.

The Area Coroner will work closely with the Senior Coroner to provide judicial leadership to the coroner team as well as conducting your own coroner investigations and inquests.



Equal Opportunities
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both, service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population. 

We use our statutory duties on race, gender and disability equality and best practice in respect of age, faith and sexual orientation to ensure equality of opportunity in the workplace. 

The Council is committed to meeting its 4 equality objectives contained within the Waltham Forest Council Equality Plan 2012/2015: 

- Promoting equality of opportunity 

- Opposing all forms of discrimination, intolerance and disadvantage 

- Ensuring our workforce reflects the diverse communities of Waltham Forest at all levels. 

- Providing fair, appropriate, accessible and excellent Services to all. 

Respecting Diversity is a core Council value. 

Company

Waltham Forest

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