Senior Coroner for Cumbria11/05/2025 23:59
Cockermouth
Senior Coroner for Cumbria
Salary £147,911 per annum (as per JNC Coroners Circular no. 69)
Closing date: Midnight – Sunday 27th April 2025 - Extended to 11th May 2025
Interview date: Friday 13th June 2025
Cumberland Council, as ‘relevent authority’ for Coroners services in Cumbria, is seeking to appoint a new Senior Coroner for the Cumbria coroners area.
About the Post:
The Senior Coroner stands at the head of the local coroners service, and statutory coroners area, and takes the lead on coronial work within the area, and will be expected to conduct those inquests that are difficult, complex and/or likely to attract significant publicity or media attention.
The number of reported deaths in 2024 was 1,570.
Accordingly we are seeking to appoint a Senior Coroner on a full-time basis (40 hours per week).
The salary payable is inclusive of all payments in respect of any out of hours availability.
Cumberland Council is looking for an exceptional candidate with excellent proven organisational, management and efficiency skills, as well as experience of exercising sound judgement and communicating effectively. You will work closely with the local authority’s Service Manager & Professional Lead to ensure the running of an efficient coroner service that puts the bereaved at the heart of it service. Collaborative working with the local authority, the police, local Medical Examiners, and other stakeholders is absolutely essential.
If you have not already attended the Senior Identification Manager training through the College of Policing, you will be expected to do so when the next available vacancy arises on that course. You must do the same with Leadership and Appraisal training arranged through the Judicial College.
Also, you must attend the following, in person, each year:
- Coroner Continuation training
- Chief Coroner’s Conference for Senior and Area Coroners
- Other mandatory training as required by the Chief Coroner
The relevant authority will meet the costs of the training, including backfill by Assistant Coroners and associated travel and accommodation expenses.
You may also be required to attend the one-day medical training.
You will be required to demonstrate you have comprehensive knowledge and experience of coronial law and of basic medicine, have proven skills in conducting investigations and have a full understanding of court procedure. You will also need to demonstrate the excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary to deal with sensitive situations.
It is essential that the successful candidate has proven experience of running, or shared running, of a coroner’s jurisdiction, including carrying out investigations, case management, and conducting all types of inquests, and working with the local authority.
Who can apply:
The successful candidate will be a barrister or a solicitor, or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, and satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility conditions, which mean they will have a minimum of five years of experience whilst holding that qualification.
They will be under the age of 75, have experience of working as a Senior Coroner, Area Coroner or Assistant Coroner, and be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (s.23 and Schedule 3).
Statutory terms of the Appointment:
Once a Coroner is appointed they are then a Judicial Office holder until they reach the age of 75 years (compulsory retirement age), unless they choose to resign, or are removed by the Lord Chief Justice or Lord Chancellor prior to their 75th birthday.
How to apply:
The candidate pack is available here:final senior coroner - cumbria - appointment pack march 2025 final 002
Declaration Form:cumbria declaration 2025
If you wish to have an informal discussion or have any questions regarding the position, please contact:
- Andrew Smith, Service Manager - andrew.smith@cumberland.gov.uk
Suitably qualified applicants are requested to email their CV and their application / supporting documents, the signed declaration, and a covering letter, to: andrew.smith@cumberland.gov.uk
Notification
The vacancy for this post has been notified to the Chief Coroner and Lord Chancellor (as required by statute).