Candidate Information Pack:
Senior Coroner
West Yorkshire
Western Area
Relevant Authority:
Bradford Metropolitan District Council
July 2014
CONTENTS –
SENIOR CORONER, WEST YORKSHIRE, WESTERN AREA
INFORMATION PACK
1.
Advert
2.
Service Information
3
Job Description
4
Person Specification
5
Summary of Terms and Conditions
6
Recruitment and Selection Process
This recruitment pack has been drafted in accordance with the Coroners and
Justice Act 2009.
ADVERT
Senior Coroner for West Yorkshire (Western) Coroner Area
Salary £99,664 per annum
Bradford Metropolitan District Council (BMDC) is the relevant authority for the West
Yorkshire (Western) Coroner Area which comprises the Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale
local authority districts. BMDC is seeking to appoint a new Senior Coroner to lead and
manage the service through a period of considerable challenge.
BMDC is looking for exceptional candidates who with enthusiasm and excellent
interpersonal skills will inspire all those that you work with. You will have proven
leadership, organisational, management, efficiency and budgetary control skills as well as
experience of managing and embracing change. This role has a significant ambassadorial
responsibility and will present interesting challenges during a period of significant change.
This appointment will take effect in October 2014 at the earliest and will be subject to the
appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. You will
therefore have satisfied the judicial appointment eligibility condition on a five year basis.
You will have significant and recent experience in coronial law and procedures. Ideally you
will have substantial and current experience of working as a Senior Coroner, Area coroner
or Assistant Coroner.
You will have sound knowledge of all aspects of the English Legal system with particular
regard to Coronial law and the laws of evidence, the administration of the legal system
and proceedings and will demonstrate the ability to handle highly sensitive or emotionally
charged situations effectively. Your exceptional communications skills are important. You
must have the ability to readily explain legal and medical terms to non-specialists, and you
must be competent in dealing with sensitive situations involving relatives, witnesses, the
police and the media.
Interviews will be held in Bradford. The date of the interview will be determined in due
course, but it is expected to be in late September 2014.
Salary will be paid in accordance with the JNC Circular on Coroners’ pay. This will be a
whole-time coroner appointment within the population band of over £1m. A 5.5% salary
supplement is also payable should the appointee join the Local Government Pension
Scheme.
The salaries, expenses and disbursements of running the service will be paid by BMDC,
through its payments facilities, and following its procedures and policies. BMDC will
provide clerical support, office and court accommodation for the running of the service.
If you would like an informal discussion about the role prior to submitting an application form
please contact Suzan Hemingway, City Solicitor at BMDC on 01274 433696 or email her at
[email protected]/.
The successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure Application form and to
provide criminal conviction information.
Closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 10 August 2014.
If you have not heard anything following your application by 22 August 2014 please
assume your application has been unsuccessful.
For further information including an information pack and Job Description/Person
Specification please visit: bradford.gov.uk/jobs.
All applications must be submitted to Bradford Metropolitan District Council by the
aforementioned closing date.
If you incur any problems please contact either Adele Humble on 07582108912 or
Karen Hoyle on 01274 437455.
SERVICE INFORMATION
The West Yorkshire Western Senior Coroner role covers an area with a population of over
1,000,000.
Assistant Coroners
The Coroner receives support from a number of Assistant Coroners, including one
nominated deputy in line with the Chief Coroner’s guidance. They provide cover while the
Senior Coroner is unavailable due to leave, sickness, training etc or to assist generally
with the workload. However, the Senior Coroner will be expected to undertake all ‘long
inquests’ except where he/she is precluded from doing so, e.g. due to a conflict of
interests.
Office Accommodation and Support Staff
The Senior Coroner and his/her staff have offices in the City Courts in Bradford. However,
the area your position covers is West Yorkshire (Western) Area. This includes the
Metropolitan Districts of Kirklees and Calderdale as well as Bradford. Coroner’s court
hearings are held in Bradford, Huddersfield and Halifax on different days each week. The
Coroner is currently supported by 5 fee-paid Assistant Coroners, all of whom are
employed by Bradford Metropolitan District Council. The Senior Coroner is also supported
by 9 Coroner’s Officers who are employed by West Yorkshire Police. The new Senior
Coroner will receive appropriate secretarial and administrative support from Bradford
Metropolitan District Council.
Resources
For corporate management purposes, the Coroner Service forms part of the City
Solicitor’s Department. The City Solicitor acts as the main interface between the Coroner
and the local authority.
The Western Area has a budget of £1.1m.
Ordering of supplies and processing of income and expenditure are undertaken through
the Council’s systems.
Statistics
There are currently 2 Coroners Areas covering the following areas within West Yorkshire:
West Yorkshire (Eastern) Area:
Local Authority Areas – Wakefield and Leeds
Relevant Council – Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
West Yorkshire (Western) Area:
Local Authority Areas – Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees
Relevant Council – Bradford Metropolitan District Council
The current estimated population figures, as reported by the Office of National Statistics,
area as follows:
Local Authority
Population
(Thousands)
Bradford
Calderdale
Kirklees
506.8
201.6
406.8
TOTAL
1,115.2
The current case load of the Western District is as follows:
West Yorkshire
Western
Deaths
2011
2012
2013
3234
3223
3095
Non-jury Inquests
2011
2012
2013
490
443
575
Jury Inquests
2011
2012
2013
6
3
4
Inquests Article 2 HRA
2011
2012
2013
9*
0*
1*
Post Mortems
2011
2012
2013
1615
1674
1546
*Please note these figures are an approximation
Please find below links to Bradford, Kirklees and Calderdale web sites for further relevant
information on each council and their district.
BRADFORD
http://www.bradford.gov.uk/bmdc
KIRKLEES
http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/statistics/factsheets/Fact2011.pdf Alternatively the link is
to http://www.kirklees.gov.uk/community/statistics/factsheets/factsheets.shtml
CALDERDALE
www.calderdale.gov.uk
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB TITLE:
Senior Coroner for West Yorkshire (Western) Area
(Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees)
GRADE:
JNC population band over 1,000,000 residents
RESPONSIBLE FOR:
Staff as allocated
RESPONSIBLE TO:
City Solicitor, Bradford Metropolitan District Council
SALARY:
£99,664 pa
HOURS (PER WEEK):
Basic hours of 36 per week over 5 weekdays. However this is
a whole time appointment and the exigencies of the service
determine whatever hours are necessary to fulfil the full duties
of the appointment.
JOB PURPOSE:
To deliver a high quality coronial service to the people within
the Western District of the West Yorkshire jurisdiction in
accordance with statutory provisions, case law, best practice
and associated guidance. Bradford Metropolitan District
Council is the lead council acting on behalf of the whole
district.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:
(i)
To provide a high quality coroner service in accordance with statutory provisions
and associated guidance issued by the Chief Coroner and the Ministry of Justice
or Lord Chancellor
(ii)
To lead the local coroner team and to work effectively with the local authority and
police (where necessary) to deliver a high quality coroner service
(iii)
To conduct investigations into deaths when made aware that bodies of deceased
persons are within the coroner area and there is reason to suspect that:
(a) the deceased died a violent or unnatural death,
(b) the cause of death is unknown, or
(c) the deceased died while in custody or otherwise in state detention.
(iv) To be sensitive and, as far as possible, responsive to the needs and requirements
of those who engage with the coronial service, including bereaved, witnesses, the
media, police and other interested parties in the process.
(v)
To organise the delivery of the coronial service in an efficient and effective
manner, having full regard to the statutory requirements of the coronial service,
along with the financial and budgetary constraints associated with the public
sector funding.
(vi) To determine the identity of the deceased and the medical cause of death; decide
if a post mortem examination is necessary and give directions to a pathologist or
other appropriately qualified expert medical practitioner or scientist.
(vii) Where required, hold an inquest, with or without a jury, in accordance with Section
7 of the 2009 Act and as appropriate, notify the relevant Registrar of Deaths the
findings of the inquest, or the natural cause of death ascertained by post mortem
examination or that the death reported does not require further coronial
investigation.
(viii) In liaison with other key stakeholders, to ensure that the coronial service has
planned for and is prepared for any significant emergencies which may occur or
affect the coronial district and which are in excess of the day to day resource and
capacity of the local service.
(ix) To comply with the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 for 24 hour
availability and to make provision for the diverse needs of the community. This will
include the urgent release of bodies to meet the expectations of the diverse faith
of each district, including at weekends and bank holidays.
(x)
To liaise with voluntary organisations that provides support to families and
members of the public attending inquests.
(xi) To manage the relationship between Local Authority Officers and Coroner’s
Officers located at the Coroner’s Court to ensure a safe and harmonious working
environment.
(xii) To provide notes, transcriptions, recordings of inquests and other relevant
documents in accordance with statutory requirements.
(xiii) To deal with claims for treasure in accordance with statutory regulations.
(xiv) To ensure that the Coronial Service takes full account of ethnic and cultural
diversity of the population in the Western District and seeks to be responsive to
the varying religious and cultural needs of their diverse communities.
(xv) To assist the Local Authority to appoint Assistant Coroners, and if required.
(xvi) To manage the staff, budget and activities of the coronial office.
(xvii) To make annual and other returns to the Chief Coroner or Secretary of State in
connection with the investigations held and the deaths he/she has enquired into.
(xviii) To keep an up-to-date working knowledge of the law and practice and advise on
developments as appropriate.
(xix) To account for and reconcile income/expenditure in accordance with the Council’s
Financial Regulations, including payment of relevant fees and allowances to
witnesses and jurors, and to submit accounts acing on behalf of the western
district.
(xx) To promote and implement the Council’s Equalities policy in all aspects of
employment and service delivery.
(xxi) To collaborate and engage with external agencies and stakeholders as required,
including the Council’s Resilience Planning Unit.
(xxii) To provide Local Authority Officers and Coroner’s Officers with relevant and
appropriate coronial advice as required.
Key External Contacts:
Chief Coroner, Bereaved
families and other interested
parties, Members of the Public,
Media, Coroners holding office
in other jurisdictions, Police
Service, Coroner’s Officers,
Ministry of Justice, Central
Government, Voluntary
Organisations, Members of the
medical profession, Solicitors
and Barristers, Local Court
Services, Funeral Directors,
Mortuary services (noncouncil)
Key Internal Contacts:
Local Authority Officers and Councillors,
Registrars, Mortuary Services (local
authority)
Confidentiality:
Treating all information acquired through
employment, both formally and informally,
in confidence. There are strict rules and
protocols defining employee access to and
use of the council’s databases. Any breach
of thee rules and protocols will be subject
to disciplinary investigation. There are
internal procedures in place for employees
to raise matters of concern regarding such
issues as bad practice or mismanagement.
Equalities and Diversity:
The council has a strong commitment to
achieving equality of opportunity in its
services to the community and in the
employment of people. It expects all
employees to understand, comply with and
promote its policies in their own work,
undertake any appropriate training to help
them to challenge prejudice or decimation.
Health and Safety:
Being responsible for own health and
safety, as well as that of colleagues,
service users and the public. Employees
should co-operate with management,
follow established systems of work, and
use protective equipment and report
defects and hazards to management.
Managers should carry out, monitor and
review risk assessments, providing robust
induction and training packages for new
and transferring staff, to ensure they
receive relevant H&S training, including
refresher training, report all accidents in a
timely manner on council accident forms.
Contribute as an effective and
collaborative team member:
This will involve:
Participating in training to demonstrate
competence.
Undertaking training as required for the
role.
Participating in the development,
implementation an monitoring of service
plans
Championing the professional integrity of
the service.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Post:
Senior Coroner - West Yorkshire (Western) Coroner Area –
Bradford, Calderdale and Kirklees
Essential Knowledge:
1. All applicants must be a barrister or a solicitor or fellow of CILEX and satisfy the
judicial-appointment eligibility condition on a 5 year basis and be under the age of
70.
2. Thorough, up to date knowledge of legislation relating to Coroner’s duties, including
particularly the law of evidence, the administration of the legal system and the
procedures of courts.
3. Knowledge of structures and procedures of the Police, in particular those relating to
the investigation of sudden or suspicious deaths.
4. Knowledge of structures and procedures of local authorities.
5. Must have knowledge of the extent to which cultural and religious requirements can
be met within the constraints of Coronial law and practice.
6. Knowledge of the workings of local government including an understanding of the
challenges facing local government, both at present and in the future. An ability to
drive the service and be receptive to new ideas and diverse needs.
7. Prepared to engage with the local community, for example giving talks and seeking
feedback and views.
8. Effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to explain legal and
medical terms to people from non-legal or non-medical backgrounds.
9. Excellent analytical, decision making and administrative tasks.
10. IT literacy, including experience of using MS Office packages and familiarity with
email and internet systems including IRIS Law Coroners Software.
11. Ability to work in sensitive situations with a wide range of stakeholders (eg.
Relatives, police officers, mortuary staff, Registrars, witnesses and the media).
12. Able to deal with emotionally charged situations that require sensitive handling and
confident/positive judgement.
13. Ability to handle sensitive situations with tact, diplomacy and compassion.
14. Able to work flexibly to support the delivery of a comprehensive, 24 hour service
across the jurisdiction.
15. Full current driving licence (unless disability precludes this) and use of a vehicle for
business purposes.
Essential Experience:
1. Given the size and high profile nature of the jurisdiction, it is desirable to
have experience as a Senior Coroner, Area Coroner or Assistant Coroner and of the
running of a busy Coroner’s Court.
2. Experience of conducting investigative enquiries including demonstrating clarity of
thought in identifying issues relevant to the investigation.
3. Substantial experience of holding inquests, including jury inquests.
4. Experience of managing staff and performance, and of coordinating/co-operating with
the work of multi-disciplinary teams.
5. Effective budget and resource management and of running the finances of the
jurisdiction.
Special Conditions
Please see summary of terms and conditions of the Office of Senior Coroner.
Summary of terms and conditions of the Office of Senior Coroner
The conditions of service applicable to the post are those set out in Schedule 3, Coroner
and Justice Act 2009 and the salary in s15 (2) is in accordance with the National
Agreement of Pay and Conditions of Service of the Joint Negotiating Committee for
Coroners for the time being or any successor arrangements. The Senior Coroner will not
be an employee of the Council.
Salary
The annual salary for the post is currently £99, 664, in accordance with JNC Population
Band over 1,000,000.
Pension Scheme
A Senior Coroner may join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LPGS) in accordance
with any provisions relating to Coroner appointments as applied to the that scheme.
Hours of work
The post holder will be required to work the hours necessary to meet the demands of the
post. The European Community working hours’ directives do not apply to the Office of
Coroner. In accordance with The Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 the Senior
Coroner shall at the times be ready to undertake either personally or by an assistant any
duties in connection with inquest and post-mortem examinations.
The coroner will arrange for an out of hours cover service to comply with the Coroner’s
Regulations 2013.
The Senior Coroner is expected to live within reasonable travelling distance of the coroner
area for which he or she is appointed.
Holiday entitlement
The Senior Coroner will be expected to take an annual leave entitlement of 30
days.
Payment of other expenses
The local authority will pay or reimburse all payments actually made by the Senior
Coroner of professional fees and allowances, items included in the Local Authorities
schedule of allowance expenses and all other expenses incurred in or about the holding of
an inquest, or other enquires in accordance with the relevant legislation any policy of the
Council, or any subsequent statutory enactments.
Indemnity
The Council will indemnify the Senior Coroner for costs or damages awarded against, in
the course of legal proceedings in accordance with Section 27A, Coroners Act 1988. Such
indemnity shall be only if and the extent the Council has agreed in advance to indemnify.
Notice period
The Senior Coroner may resign office by giving notice in writing to the relevant authority,
however the resignation does not take effect unless and until it is accepted by the
authority. The Senior Coroner will be expected to give six months’ notice of retirement or
resignation to enable the Council to comply with the Coroner and Justice Act 2009 in filling
the vacancy.
Political restricted post
This post is politically restricted under the terms of Schedule 3, Part 4 of the Coroner and
Justice Act 2009.
The Judicial Code of Conduct
The Senior Coroner will comply with the standards as set out in the Judicial Code of
Conduct along with guidance issued by the Chief Justice of England and Wales.
RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS
SENIOR CORONER FOR THE WEST YORKSHIRE (WESTERN AREA)
Applications
It is important that your written application fully addresses the criteria as detailed in the
person specification. Please ensure you include your work, home and mobile contact
numbers, home address and e-mail addresses where applicable. Please note that
correspondence will be via e-mail unless otherwise stated.
Employment references
Please include the name, address and contact details for two references. Candidates
should also state their relationship to the referee and at least one should be your
current/most recent employer. References will be taken up for short listed candidates.
Evidence of qualifications
Candidates will be required to bring evidence of their qualifications to the interview.
Employment checks
The successful candidate will be required to undergo the Council’s pre-employment
medical screening.
Criminal convictions check
Due to the nature of the post, it is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
and conviction, whether spent or unspent, must be declared. Applicants invited to
interview will be required to complete a declaration form. The successful candidate will be
required to undergo a DBS check.
Eligibility to work in the UK
Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. The successful candidate will be required
to provide original evidence of their eligibility to work in the UK.
Chief Coroner’s role in the process
The Chief Coroner or nominee will be providing technical advice to the Council throughout
the recruitment process. Although the Chief Coroner or nominee may be at the interviews
they are not a member of the panel and as such have no role in short listing or scoring
candidates.
The Chief Coroner and the Lord Chancellor must consent to the appointments of all
Coroners.
Local Authorities appoint Coroners but do not employ them. Once appointed a Coroner
becomes and remains an independent judicial officer holder.
RECRUITMENT TIMETABLE
HM CORONER FOR WEST YORKSHIRE (WESTERN) CORONER AREA
Sunday 10 August 2014
Closing time for return of applications is 11:59pm.
W/c 11 August 2014
Candidates shortlisted
September 2014
Officer Interviews for shortlisted candidates.
Interview Panel will consist of: Tony Reeves
-
Chief Executive, Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Merran McRae
-
Chief Executive, Calderdale Council
Adrian Lythgow
-
Chief Executive, Kirklees Council
Suzan Hemingway
-
City Solicitor, Bradford Metropolitan District Council
The interview process could include an assessment centre, a presentation as well as a
formal interview.
October 2014 (or as soon as possible thereafter, depending on notice periods)
The successful candidate will take up post.