Job introduction
Job title: Area Coroner - Liverpool and Wirral Area
Salary: £123,778 per annum [salary stated was agreed up to 31 March 2025, was in line with the Coroners JNC Circular 69, and includes £10,000 per annum for out of hours non-statutory coronial provision], pay review pending.
About the post:
Liverpool City Council is seeking a new full time Area Coroner to replace the current post holder who leaves in September 2025.
The Area Coroner will work closely with the Senior Coroner to provide judicial leadership to the coroner team as well as conducting their own coroner investigations and inquests. The area coroner is the nominated deputy for the Senior Coroner when the senior coroner is absent. The Area Coroner will be expected to be available out of hours on a rota-based system.
Liverpool City 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. In this role, you will work closely with the Senior Coroner and local authority manager to ensure value for money, performance and financial efficiencies. Collaborative working with the senior coroner, local authority, the police and other stakeholders is essential. This is a complex coroner area with a varied, interesting and challenging caseload so will provide an opportunity to develop skills.
You will be required to demonstrate knowledge and experience of coroner law and of basic medicine, have proven skills in conducting investigations and an understanding of court procedure. You will also need to demonstrate the excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary to deal with sensitive situations.
It is desirable that the successful candidate has proven experience of running or sharing running a coroner’s jurisdiction including carrying out investigations, case management, and conducting inquests.
Who can apply:
The successful candidate will be a barrister or a solicitor or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition which means they will have five years of experience in the law whilst holding that qualification. They will be under the age of 75, have experience of working as an assistant coroner or area coroner or equivalent judicial experience or transferable skills. Experience of complex investigations and Article 2 Human Rights Act enhanced investigations is desirable. They will 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 as an attachment. Suitably qualified applicants are requested to upload a CV and Supporting Statement by submitting an application form on the Liverpool City Council website.
Your Supporting Statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and no smaller than font size 11. In particular, please ensure you address how you meet the following criteria (further details can be found within the attached Candidate Information Pack):
- Assimilating and clarifying information
- Managing work efficiently
- Working with others
- Communicating effectively
- Exercising judgement
- Possessing and building knowledge
If you wish to have an informal discussion or arrange a visit, please contact Anita Bhardwaj, Area Coroner on 0151 233 5770.
Notification:
The vacancy for this post has been notified to the Chief Coroner and Lord Chancellor (as required by statute).
Next steps:
Closing date: midnight on Thursday 31 July 2025
Shortlisting: expected to be completed by Monday 11 August 2025
Interviews: 23 and/or 24 September 2025 (with invites to be issued the W/C 1 September)
If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.
Please note: this vacancy is classified as a politically restricted position.
Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications. Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad.
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