Senior Coroner for Sefton, Knowsley and St. Helens
Senior Coroner for Sefton, Knowsley and St. Helens
*please see the footnote
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council is seeking to appoint a new Senior Coroner to replace the current post-holder who retired in September 2018.
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.
The number of reported deaths pa is 2200. 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. A Senior Coroner may join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
The Senior Coroner will be based in the dedicated court and coroner’s office in Bootle. Office opening hours are 8.30am-6.30pm .
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council 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 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 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 a Senior Coroner, area coroner or assistant 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 David McCullough, Chief Legal and Democratic Officer with Sefton MBC on 07973 297719.
Suitably qualified applicants are requested to email their CV, their application and their signed declaration to: recruitment@sefton.gov.uk
Closing date: 5pm Wednesday 26th February 2020
Interview date: Tuesday 17th March 2020
* There is currently a problem opening the candidate pack on any Windows 7 devices, we are endeavouring to resolve this as speedily as possible.
Equal Opportunities
Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.
How to apply
Suitably qualified applicants are requested to email their CV, their application and their signed declaration to: recruitment@sefton.gov.uk