Coroner’s Court Usher

About the role

**Coroner's Court Usher**

Permanent, Full Time

Up to £24,731 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Fixed-base worker

**The Opportunity**

This role is focused primarily on ensuring the smooth running of the Coroners Court including directing family and jury members, ensuring relevant case files are ready and available, that all court equipment is available, as well as providing support during hearings. When courts are not in session, the role will be required to support simple administration tasks which contribute to the running of the service.

The role holder will need good communication and engagement skills to support both Coroners and bereaved family members, as well as a high level of resilience as often cases will be disturbing and distressing in nature.

Coroners is an essential service for the residents of Essex and has just moved into new purpose-built offices in Seax House. It provides an investigative service assisting in the execution of the coroner’s legal and public duties. It provides a local service to the community investigating unnatural or violent deaths, where the cause of death is unknown or the death took place in prison, police custody or another type of state detention, such as a mental health institution. The service provides bereaved people and other relevant parties an explanation of the coroner’s investigation and the inquest process. The service is made up of Coroners, judicial officers, and Coroners Officers. The Coroners Officers are ECC employees and are a link between the coroner and the bereaved. They also liaise with stakeholders such as NHS trusts/GPs/Funeral directors /Pathologists/as well collating all relevant documentation necessary for the coroner.

**Accountabilities**
- Responsible for attending and supporting the operation of the Coroner’s Court for all aspects of inquest hearings whilst they are being held, as well as providing support to the Coroner and Coroner’s Officers, ensuring files are ready prior to inquest, and all supplies required at court are available and replenished regularly
- Ensure management of the digital display of evidence in court including witness evidence by video link when required
- Ensure the courtroom is prepared ready for use and all inquests are recorded and filed to statutory requirements.
- Liaise with bereaved families, juries, witnesses, lawyers, press and other interested parties whilst at court to ensure they are fully aware of the processes, keep all parties informed throughout the inquest, and liaise with court volunteers to keep them updated as required
- Read witness statements in court as required, support swearing and affirmation of oath processes
- Ensure messages are passed to the coroner from the Jury and prevent anyone from approaching the Jury without permission
- Support the smooth running of the office by undertaking basic/simple administrative duties such as answering telephone enquiries, photocopying and filing
- Ensure inquest files are archived and managed according to office processes including the updating and uploading basic information onto the coroner case management system

**The Experience You Will Bring**
- Educated to GCSE Level
- Excellent organisational skills
- Methodical and accurate
- Ability to prioritise workload
- Ability to work to strict deadlines
- Ability to work in confidential and sensitive situations
- Good standard of IT skills and use of technology.
- Confident and clear public speaking voice

To read more about us please visit: Climate, Environment and Customer Services

**Why Essex?** Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest - Basildon and Harlow - are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

**What you should do next**

**Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.**

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community

Follow us on Facebook ,Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Further details can be found on our careers page.

**Downloads**

Pay and Reward **|** Our Ways of Working **|** About Us **|** Organisation Behaviours