Coroner's Officer

Coordinate and manage personal workload of assigned cases, managing the process from reporting receipt through to closure, generating and distributing appropriate accurate and complete paperwork at all stages, and monitoring/reporting progress to ensure timely completion of all cases.

• Obtain pertinent information from relevant witnesses in circumstances of sudden or unexplained deaths reported to the Police or Coroner.
• Check or clarify with doctors whether a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD) can be issued, and/or agree actions with the Coroner for further investigations or other necessary activity.
• Arrange for relevant individuals to identify bodies, attend the identification process if required, and provide support as appropriate to bereaved families.
• Arrange a post-mortem examination if required (and attend if necessary).

• Provide advice and guidance to relatives, doctors, funeral directors, Medical Examiners and other interested parties to ensure that the role of the Coroner is understood, and correct procedures relating to the Coroner's enquiry are followed.
• Ensure that all relevant persons are advised of a sudden or unexplained death (e.g. relevant Inspectorates, DSS, Embassies) so they can meet their obligations and provide the Coroner and Police with the information required.
• Maintain effective communication with all interested parties, in particular: help them understand the cause of death, explain where relevant why the coroner intends to take no further action in a particular case, inform people of their rights and responsibilities, take account where possible of individual wishes, feelings and expectations (including family and community preferences, traditions and religious requirements relating to mourning, post-mortem examinations and to funerals), contact bereaved people and others involved in the investigation at least every two months to inform them of the stage of the case and explain reasons for any delays, have respect for individual and family privacy and sensitivities, provide a welcoming, safe and engaging environment, treat everyone with fairness, respect, dignity and sensitivity, treat children and young people involved in an investigation in a way appropriate to their age, make reasonable adjustments where possible to accommodate the needs of those with disabilities, help people to find further help where this is needed, provide information about how to make a complaint about the Coroner Service.

• Obtain the necessary evidence required by the Coroner to enable them to discharge their duties, including obtaining statements from witnesses, collating police statements and medical reports and reports from other departments, to explain the Who, When, Where and How requirements of the Coronial function.
• Prepare the file for the Coroner and arrange inquests, including venue, warning of witnesses, informing relatives and interested parties and summoning a jury if required.
• Attend inquests to maintain relevant processes so that the inquest complies with statutory provisions and requirements of the Coroner and to ensure the smooth running of the inquest, including swearing in of witnesses (including working co‑operatively with volunteers from the Coroners Support Service for witness and family care).
• Ensure witnesses and jurors at inquests are aware of procedures for payments of expenses as per Home Office Fees and Allowances.
• Provide support to relatives and advise them and other witnesses on procedures in the Coroner’s Court, and advise on action following inquest i.e. obtaining Death Certificate and appeal procedure.

• Maintain timely, accurate and complete computerized records relating to each death reported.

• Ensure that the Human Tissue Act is adhered to in accordance with local Coronial practice.
• Attend forensic and suspicious death post‑mortems to ensure that the Coroner’s needs are met.

• Contribute to the continued development and wellbeing of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Coroner Service (and associated Registration Services) through promoting and practising…