Teqniq is searching for a Coroner Support Officer to work in the public sector.
37 hours per week.
3 month contract.
The role is Monday – Thursday 08:30-17:00 with 1 hour for lunch.
There may be a requirement to stay longer if court is running over, but this is very rare. Usual place of work is Northallerton, although occasionally an external venue may be utilised, and the court officer will be expected to travel there.
A court officer is required to support HM Coroner during Inquest hearings. The Coroner will undertake an Inquest when a death is considered to be violent or unnatural, cause unknown or the deceased person died whilst in state detention. The subject matter can therefore be graphic, and distressing and Inquests will be attended by traumatised and bereaved families, legal representatives, witnesses, members of the press and other members of the public.
The Court officer will be responsible for checking that the bundle is printed and complete and will be required to have face to face contact with all attendees and ensure the smooth running of the court whilst retaining empathy and efficiency.
This is a formal court hearing and experience of court process is an advantage. During the hearing, the court officer will be responsible for the smooth running of the hearing, including swearing in of witnesses and completing statutory and non-statutory forms. IT skills are required to use a complex case management system and ensure the statutory recording of Inquests and facilitation of remote attendees. The Court officer will complete statutory forms for signature by a Coroner, ensuring accuracy and correctness.
Other general support tasks may be assigned in the event that an Inquest is postponed or goes part heard. These may include, but are not limited to, answering telephone queries and directing to the correct person, printing and sorting of files, scanning and attaching relevant documentation to the case on the case management system.
Essential: – Experience of working within an environment where direct contact with distressed people, witnesses and legal representatives was necessary.
- Demonstrates excellent communication skills and attention to detail
Desirable – experience of working within a legal environment, either coronial, criminal justice or civil justice.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Coroner’s court officer - Agency
The overriding principle is that a court officer will run the court efficiently and sensitively, be a reassuring presence for the family and any witnesses and will ensure that the coroner is not approached before or during a hearing by anybody other than the court officer.
- Ensure that the paper file for cases to be heard are checked for completeness, print and make available to the sitting coroner.
- Ensure the court is set out and is tidy. Check air con, switch on lights. Do not allow access to the court.
- Put water out and check whether it needs refreshing during breaks.
- Set up the visual and audio recording equipment and prepare any TEAMs attendance by speaking to TEAMs attendees and ensure they can see and hear and inform them that they should have their cameras switched on at the start of the Inquest and then must switch off cameras unless giving evidence.
- Welcome families if in attendance and explain they will be brought into court when ready. Advise them of how the hearing will run if they are unsure. Note who is present (form provided – attendance sheet) For Inquests of long duration, the family and any counsel for IPS can be directed to dedicated rooms for them to wait.
- Welcome witnesses if in attendance and explain they will be brought into court (attendance sheet) when ready. Advise them of how the hearing will be run if unsure. Note who is present and whether they wish to swear an oath or affirm.
- Update Coroner when all witnesses and family are present. If witnesses are absent, then check if represented and get their legal rep to chase them. If not, then please contact. If family are absent and is known that they intend to attend, or their intentions are not known, then contact should be made to clarify.
- Bring witnesses, family and any other attendees into court and seat according to plan.
- Make a final check that reception is clear of all attendees.
- Bring Coroner into court and ask the Court to rise.
- Commence recording.
- Swear in any witnesses who are present in court.
- Record on the Hearing sheet the time that the Inquest begins, when a witness gives evidence and time closed.
- On closure of the inquest, ask the court to rise whilst the Coroner exits.
- Clear the court and assist the family in next steps re registering etc.
- Scan the attendance log onto each specific case.
- Undertake post inquest process – to include checking and issuing statutory forms and notification to Interested persons.
TEQ-0626-RQ1743497
INDAR2
Disclaimer: On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client, (or any third parties we have dealings with) for their consideration of your suitability for the role. I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify teqniq of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary
Pay: £13.47 per hour
Work Location: In person
