Volunteer Application Form
Confidential
PersonalPersonal
details details
Title:
First name:
Last name:
Address:
Date of birth:
Contact telephone number:
Mobile:
(Please give us a daytime contact number)
Email:
Please underline in bold which court you would prefer to volunteer at:
Ampthill
Blackpool
Barnet
Barrow-in-Furness
Beaconsfield
Bradford (also covering Huddersfield & Halifax) Cannock (also covering Burton-on Trent & Stafford)
Canterbury (also covering Margate & Sandwich)
Chester
Crewe
Harrogate
Carlisle
Cockermouth
Croydon
Hatfield
Coventry
Crook
Newcastle
Manchester City
Northallerton
Shrewsbury (also covering Wellington)
Stoke on Trent
Sunderland
Westminster
Woking
Crawley
Flax Bourton
Huntingdon
Fulham
Kendal
Lincoln (also covering Spilsby, Boston, Spadling & Stamford)
Maidstone
Chelmsford
Leicester
Liverpool
Macclesfield
Middlesbrough (also covering Hartlepool)
Oxford
Skipton
Truro
York
Peterborough
Southwark
Reading
St. Pancras
Walthamstow
Milton Keynes
Scarborough
Stockport
Warrington
Please tell us what skills, knowledge and experience you believe you have that will help you to
be a volunteer for the Coroners’ Courts Support Service and why you are interested in
volunteering for us:
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Which days would you be available to work as a volunteer in the Coroner’s Court?
Please note that Courts can vary between the number of days they sit in the working week. Some sit
Monday-Friday, but some less often
So that we can provide you with the appropriate support, it would be helpful if you could indicate any
special needs that you may have for example: health, religion, culture, mobility (the nature of the role
can result in extended periods of sitting) – please state
Please tell us what languages you speak:
References (these references will not be taken up until after the formal training)
Please give details of two people one of which could be a long standing friend and the other
should have known you in a working capacity
Reference 1
Full name:
Address:
Town:
County:
Post code:
Daytime telephone number:
Email (preferred method for obtaining references):
Capacity in which this person knows you:
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Reference 2
Full name:
Address:
Town:
County:
Post code:
Daytime telephone number:
Email (preferred method for obtaining references):
Capacity in which this person knows you:
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Where did you hear about volunteering for the Coroners’ Courts Support Service?
Statement
I am applying to become a volunteer with the Coroners’ Courts Support Service. I agree to my details
being passed to the Disclosure and Barring Service to conduct a check and for the result of this to be
disclosed to the Coroners’ Courts Support Service in confidence.
N.B. If successful in your application, we will require you to have a DBS check. If you are already
registered with the online service we would need your permission to check the registration, and for
you to supply us with your online registration number.
If you agree please sign below.
If you have not been resident in this country long enough to supply us with the documentation required
for the DBS please provide us with a certificate of good conduct. This document can be requested by
you from your embassy.
Signed:
Date:
Print name:
Declaration
I declare that the information I have given on this application is true to the best of my knowledge
Signed:
Date:
Please return this application to:
Coroners’ Courts Support Service
Victoria Charity Centre
11 Belgrave Road
London SW1V 1RB
Or email to: [email protected]
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What the CCSS Looks for in a Volunteer
The following skills and qualities are desirable in a volunteer for the
CCSS:
a) The ability to work alone, but also as part of a managed team; b)
The ability to work reliably within a rota system; c) Willingness to be
contacted and to make contact with the Coordinator and the Lead
Volunteer d) Commitment to undertake initial induction and training;
e) Willingness to work within the framework of the CCSS: f)
Adherence to the policy of confidentiality; g) Ability to listen and
communicate with a wide range of people; h) A caring, mature and
supportive attitude; i) Willingness and ability to sit for extended
periods of time. This role may not be suited to those less mobile. j)
Ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing; k)
Willingness to work with and in conjunction with the Coroner and the
Coroner’s Officers.
Volunteer Role Description
Title: Coroners’ Courts Support Service Volunteer
Reports to: The Coordinator
Purpose: To enable families, witnesses and their associates to cope
with the experience of attending Court and giving evidence by
providing confidential support and information in accordance with
the CCSS policy and guidelines and the principals of Equal
Opportunities. Main Tasks:
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1. To help the Coroner’s Officers in any way appropriate within the
role of this volunteer description in order to support family members
and witnesses.
2. To undertake pre-Inquest familiarisation of the Court and explain
the procedure.
3. Refer to the Coroner’s Officer any questions that fall beyond the
remit of the CCSS. Volunteers will not give any legal advice.
4. Listen to and empathise with concerns and anxieties of the families
and witnesses.
5. Do not undertake counselling.
6. Accompany the families and witnesses into Court unless they
specifically ask you not to.
7. After the Inquest, allow them time for recovery in a quiet place, if
available, and ensure they have received all necessary information
from the Coroner’s Officer.
8. Signpost family members and witnesses to other appropriate
agencies if they so wish.
9. If the Inquest is not concluded that day, pass on all information to
the volunteer taking over the case via telephone only. 10. Complete
the CCSS Report Form and the statistics sheet. These to be held in
the CCSS file at the Coroner’s Court or other appropriate agreed safe
place.
11. To be available a minimum of one day a fortnight if required. To
attend the Court from 45 minutes before the Court sits to the end of
the day’s session.
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12. Never discuss evidence, give an opinion on the possible
conclusion or comment on the effect of this.
13. Must be available for regular support and supervision which can
be conducted by telephone, email, group or one-to-one. Must also
attend at least four volunteer meetings per year unless specifically
agreed with the Line Manager.
14. Submit claims for travelling and other agreed expenses in
accordance with the Coroners’ Courts Support Service policy. Travel
expenses should be via the cheapest form of transport available
wherever possible.
PROCEDURE FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
1. Complete the Coroners’ Courts Support Service (CCSS) Application
Form.
2. Attend and observe a variety and number of Inquests at a
Coroner’s Court to see if you would feel comfortable working in the
Court environment. At the same time, we will be able to tell you
more about volunteering with the CCSS and explain the procedure to
you as detailed below.
3. If after this discussion, you wish to be considered as a volunteer
with the CCSS, arrangements will be made for you to watch how our
volunteers help.
4. A formal interview will be held to determine whether you should
become a volunteer.
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5. If you are accepted to become a volunteer, references will be taken
up and Police or Disclosure and Barring Service checks undertaken
(please note the applicant must have been resident in the UK for a
minimum of 3 years).
6. You will attend the CCSS training as soon as this is arranged.
7. Meanwhile, you will ‘shadow’ an experienced volunteer several
times to learn the procedure.
8. After successful completion of the training an experienced
volunteer will then ‘shadow’ you until your Coordinator and you are
confident in your ability to work on your own.
9. Throughout the above processes you will be assessing the CCSS to
determine if it is the right type of volunteering role for you and the
CCSS will be assessing your suitability as a volunteer.
10. You will then start as a volunteer supporting in the Courts.
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