Senior Coroner for Sunderland20/10/2024 23:59

Sunderland

Senior Coroner for Sunderland

Salary £134,622 per annum in accordance with JNC No. 68

Closing date: midnight 20th October 2024

 

Sunderland City Council is seeking to appoint a new Senior Coroner to replace the current post-holder who retires in December 2024.

 

About the Post:

The Senior Coroner stands at the head of the local coroner service and statutory coroner area and takes the lead on coroner work and will be expected to conduct inquests which are difficult or complex or will be likely to attract significant publicity.

 

We shall appoint our Senior Coroner with a salary on a full-time basis. In the event of any mergers with a neighbouring Coroner Area, you are expected to fully engage should such a merger be in the mutual interests of the Coroner Areas. The salary will then be subject to an upward review.

 

The salary includes payment for out of hours availability.

 

Currently there are 2 Assistant Coroners who are fee paid. Upon appointment the Senior Coroner will need to review this support and work with the Chief Coroner’s office in respect of the appointment of further Assistant Coroners and/or an Area Coroner.

 

On 9th September 2024 new death certification rules were introduced, which will have an impact on the number and type of cases the Coroner will deal with. There will be a clear line between medical certification of deaths and judicial certification of deaths.

 

It is anticipated that the number of deaths reported to the Sunderland Coroner (1194 in 2023) will continue to reduce, as it has done since the Notification of Deaths Regulations 2019. However, the number of more complex investigations and inquests is likely to rise. You will be expected to work closely with the Medical Examiner Service. Further information can be found by reference to the Ministry of Justice Coroner Statistics https://coroner-stat-tool-ext.apps.live.cloud-platform.service.justice.gov.uk/.

 

If you have not already attended the Senior Identification Manager training through the College of Policing, you will be expected to do so when the next available vacancy arises on that course. You must do the same with Leadership and Appraisal training through the Judicial College. Also, you must attend the following in person each year:

 

Sunderland City Council will meet the costs of the training including backfill by Assistant Coroners and associated travel and accommodation expenses.

 

Sunderland City Council actively supports engagement with the Chief Coroner, the Judicial College, the Coroners’ Society of England and Wales, the Royal Society of Medicine, the Coroners' Courts Support Service, the Northern Coroners’ Society and The North of England Medico-Legal Society.

 

Sunderland City Council is looking for an exceptional candidate with excellent proven organisational, management and efficiency skills, as well as experience of exercising sound judgement and communicating effectively. You will work closely with the local authority manager to ensure value for money, performance and financial efficiencies. Collaborative working with the 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 essential that the successful candidate has proven experience of carrying out investigations, case management, and conducting inquests.

 

Who can apply:

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 which means they will have five years of experience whilst holding that qualification. They will be under the age of 75, have experience of working as a senior coroner, area coroner or assistant coroner and be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/25/notes/division/5/1/1/3/2.

 

Statutory terms of the Appointment:

Once a Coroner is appointed they are then a Judicial Office holder until they reach the age of 75 years (compulsory retirement age) unless they choose to resign or are removed by the Lord Chief Justice or Lord Chancellor prior to their 75th birthday. 

Application Pack: senior coroner appointment pack - sunderland coroner area

How to apply:

If you wish to have an informal discussion or arrange a visit, please contact Elaine Waugh, Assistant Director of Law and Governance on 07887934306 or Julienne Collinson, Senior Manager of Law and Governance on 07769160966.

 

Suitably qualified applicants are requested to email their CV and supporting statement to [email protected]

 

Notification

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

 

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