Job reference REQ00000018079 Date posted 18/03/2025 Application closing date 06/04/2025 Location Cockermouth Salary £27,711 to £28,624 Package Blank Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Attachments Blank
Job Title: Coroners Support Assistant
Location: Cockermouth
Salary: £27,711 to £28,624
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
About this opportunity
The role is to provide high quality, efficient and effective administrative and business support to the HM Coroner and the wider coroners service team, and to contribute to the effective and timely delivery of Coroner’s services to the residents of Cumbria and the wider community.
You will be part of the team providing the necessary support to enable His Majesty’s Coroners in Cumbria to fulfil their legal and statutory responsibilities as a Judicial Officer holder.
The role will require a ‘can do’ attitude, and commitment and enthusiasm. You will need to be able to work with accuracy to tight timelines, as well as multi-tasking and balance a number of different priorities, and have a ‘right first time’ approach.
You will need to be conscientious and hard-working, and have the desire to provide high quality support to HM Coroner, and importantly, to the families / bereaved at what is one of the most difficult periods in their lives losing a loved one.
Previous experience dealing with difficult subject matter, distressed individuals and/or the bereaved is desirable, and you must have tact and diplomacy, and the ability to have conversations with families and stakeholders about difficult and sensitive, and confidential, information.
Experience providing enhanced administrative and business support in one of the following areas would be an advantage:
* Legal
* Medical
* Technical / regulatory framework
Or past experience in a similar or related field to the work of HM Coroners would be an advantage.
The role may at busy periods or to cover leave also involve assisting with the hosting of inquests, including possibly assisting in Court.
Ultimately, the role is interesting and extremely rewarding as it supports the statutory role of HM Coroner, and crucially it helps families, the bereaved and next of kin at what is a difficult time in their lives having lost a loved one suddenly.
Note to all potential applicants:
It is important to stress that in this role you would be working directly for HM Coroner (as an ‘Independent Judicial Officer’), and dealing with matters relating to sudden and unexplained deaths on a daily basis.
As such the subject matter and some of the information you may see will include details, information and/or images which are very confidential and may be of a difficult, distressing and/or graphic nature.
The role also includes talking to families and the next of kin of the deceased about matters which can be very sensitive, such as their loved ones death, so they may be emotional, unsure of what is happening, or in some cases even angry.
The service has to operate to tight deadlines, with conflicting demands and priorities, so the role involves time-bound activities.
It is important that we highlight the above, as this area of work is not for everyone, and it is therefore important you understand this prior to applying, and only apply if you are able to operate within such a working environment and within this unique type of service.
Contact
For more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Andrew Smith by email at Andrew.Smith@cumberland.gov.uk
Application and Interview information
* Closing date: 6th April 2025
* Interview date: 25th April 2025
Interviews will be face-to-face, and will be held at the HM Coroners Office’s in Cockermouth.
Please ensure any application fully demonstrates how you meet the essential (and desirable) criteria, and the core requirements as detailed above, and within the post specification/job description.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have not received any notification by 5pm on Friday 18th April 2025, please take this as you not having been shortlisted, and will not be asked to attend an interview.
Please read the supporting information:
* Post Specification
Please also refer to our Careers site to find out more:
* Our Staff Benefits
* Candidate Support
* About Cumberland Council
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