Inquest Manager – Clerk to the Coroner

Salary: £28.01 per hour

North London Coroners Court are looking for an Inquest Manager, Clerk to the Coroner. 

£28.01 per hour PAYE / £29.23 per hour Umbrella PAYE 

Role Purpose

Ensure the effective operation of the Coroners Court. Provide support to HM Coroner

Deal with correspondence for the Coroner and organise the court diary. To manage the Court Reception team.

Main Responsibilities

1. Responsible for ensuring every jury) inquest has an adequate Jury provision by summoning potential Jurors from the Central Summonsing Bureau.
2. Dealing with all prospective Jurors queries and use own discretion to assess if requests to be excused Jury service should be upheld.
3. Organise extraordinary inquests that require an alternative venue or special arrangements to be established, i.e., for large inquests of national or regional importance that will attract a large public and media interest.
4. Responsible for case management, oversee and prepare all inquest files, follow Coroner’s directions and applying legal principles review and inquest files, undertake legal research where required.
5. To allocate work to, and manage staff, through a robust performance management framework including recruitment, induction, sickness absence, regular supervision and performance management and appraisals, encouraging a continuous cycle of learning and development, and you will provide clear accountability and leadership to staff at all times.
6. To support the Coroner with mass fatality/disaster planning.
7. Keep abreast of changes and developments in coronial law, procedures and best practice.
8. Manage the Court and Coroner’s Diary and liaise with other officers in relation to setting inquests.
9. Assist with opening and Cranking post, preparing, copying, collating, process and filing documents, assist with general reception duties.
10. Compliance with Council’s standing orders and legislation where appropriate.
11. To support the Business Manager with budget monitoring, and to process invoices for subsequent payment by the Council.
12. To support the Coroner in connection with procedures or matters arising from enquiries from the public/stakeholder requests.
13. Attend case conferences and meetings when required.
14. To attend court and manage the cases listed to be heard, including witnesses, counsel and family.
15. Support the Coroner with the management of the out of hours service and any other urgent matters.
16. Support the development and delivery of projects to develop the Coroner’s Service.
17. Act as superuser for the Civica case management system and update templates, letters and forms at the Coroner’s direction.
18. Support the Coroner with a range of administrative duties including summonsing jurors, Rule 28 reports, disclosure, filing, typing letters and management of court digital recording system, transcripts as required and relevant audio CDs copies of hearings.
19. Participate in post-inquest reviews with the Coroner and the Assistant Coroners.
20. Produce written records of court decisions and statistics to help with the efficient management of the courts as well as provide Annual Returns of Statistics to Ministry of Justice using software packages.
21. Provide administrative support to the Coroner on complaints investigation.
22. Manage cases of a sensitive nature in a professional manner on behalf of the Coroner, involving all levels of internal and external contacts including the public, Metropolitan Police and Ministry of Justice.
23. Build and maintain positive relationships and communication links with Coroner’s officers, pathologists, general practitioners, funeral directors, the Metropolitan Police, other relevant agencies and the general public.
24. Arrange meetings, conferences and training on behalf of the Coroner.
25. Certifying and swearing of documents.
26. Reply to general correspondence to HM Coroner from the general public of a routine nature.
27. Develop and create bespoke reporting tools using IRIS/CIVICA to provide data to the coroner
28. Health and Safety aspects/issues, first aid/manual handling etc in relation to working environment, i.e. Hazardous materials and relevant processes/legislations etc.
29. Manage Health and Safety practice and actioning recommendations following Health and Safety Risk assessments.
30. Organise and communicate the rota for pathologists.