ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL

Senior Coroner for Essex

Salary up to £135,252

Permanent, Full-time

Ref: 29488

Essex County Council is seeking to appoint a new Senior Coroner to replace the current post-holder who retires in December 2020

About the Post:

Home to 1.4 million people, Essex is the second most populated English county and one of the busiest coronial areas in England and Wales. 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.

The Senior Coroner stands at the head of the local coroner service. providing judicial leadership and taking the lead on all coronial work including the conduct of inquests. Working in partnership with Essex County Council (‘ECC’, the relevant local authority) and across the jurisdiction of Essex which includes Southend and Thurrock areas, the Senior Coroner delivers a high-quality coronial service, building the service into a nationally recognised centre of excellence for best practice.

The Senior Coroner is an independent judicial office holder, who works collaboratively with ECC officers, the Police and other stakeholders to deliver justice in a high-quality sensitive way, providing value for money, performance and financial efficiencies while putting the bereaved at the heart of the process.

Essex County Council is a learning organisation and strives to continually improve the services it delivers to the residents of Essex through innovation and digital solutions. Through sharing of best practice from the coroner service, the senior coroner will provide insight into new innovative and digital ways of working that are taking place in other jurisdictions. The senior coroner will share those with ECC officers, to continually improve the customer experience and efficiency and effectiveness of the whole team.

The number of reported deaths pa was 5,860 in 2019. This is a significant number of reported deaths, due to the geographical size of the jurisdiction as well as its particular 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. Accordingly, we appoint our senior coroner with a salary on a full-time basis.

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

You will be required to demonstrate knowledge and experience of coroner law and of relevant medico-legal knowledge, 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 essential that the successful candidate has proven experience of running or sharing a coroner’s jurisdiction including carrying out investigations, case management, and conducting inquests.

Who can apply:

The successful candidate will be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (s23 and Schedule 3) including that they are a barrister or a solicitor or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a five-year basis, which means they will have five years of experience whilst holding that qualification. They will be under the age of 70, have significant experience of working as a Senior Coroner, area coroner or assistant coroner.

In turn, Essex County Council can offer a desirable benefits package, plus the chance to work alongside a progressive team within the local authority. 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.

Statutory terms of the Appointment:

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.

How to apply:

The candidate pack is available via the following link

If you wish to have an informal discussion or arrange a visit, please contact Danielle Foster, Resourcing Delivery & Strategy Manager Danielle.foster@essex.gov.uk

Suitably qualified applicants are requested to email their CV and their application to Danielle Foster, Resourcing Delivery & Strategy Manager Danielle.foster@essex.gov.uk

Closing date: 4 October 2020.

To apply please click here https://www.workingforessex.com/job-application/29488

This vacancy has been notified to the Chief Coroner and Lord Chancellor (as required by statute).