Coroner’s Officer - anyone ?

[Suzi888]

Posted here for traffic. somewhat lighthearted! I’ve seen my dream job advertised.
Does anyone do this job or know someone that does?
What background would you need to have?
Thank you to anyone who responds!

I've met a few and as I understand it you have to be extremely detailed and thorough in your work, especially the paperwork. There is no room for mistake. The people I have met have mostly been involved in civilian investigative work in the Police. However, if you have the skills described on the job description, go for it! There is no perfect background for any job.

I'm going to give a warning here of unpleasant subject matter concerning death and circumstances around deaths.

I used to volunteer in the Coroner's Officer's Office. Most COs are police or medical background. The ones I worked with were police staff, having retired from the force as inspector rank. They were the ones who took 'possession' of a dead body on behalf of the crown (the Coroner themselves are the Crown's representative). This meant literally they would be on the scene of unexpected death recovering the body usually with help of an undertaker. This would include RTAs, suicides, victims of suspicious circumstances, and of course many natural but unexpected deaths, including repatriation of those who have died overseas. I would not like to do it. In one weekend one of them attended a suicide, an RTA and suspected murder case.

They then arrange post-mortem if necessary, follow the paperwork through and liaise with the families and undertakers for release of body and often doctors and other medical staff. They provide evidence to inquests. The coroner has his own clerical staff (ours was a solicitor, but again they could have a medical background) who run the inquests, so there is liaison with them too. There is a lot of distressing material. But someone has to do it, and they were very respectful throughout.

I've probably missed loads of what they do, but if you don't have experience (and resilience) of attending traumatic scenes, I think it would be unlikely you'd succeed in getting the job. Unless it's organised very differently in your locality and the role covers a different range of work.

I thought so, I really fancy the job, but I have absolutely no experience of attending traumatic scenes whatsoever!
I have the qualifications and paperwork experience, going to court, etc. It would actually be a massive pay cut, (partly why I thought there wasn’t that much to it) I was assuming most of the work would be admin related, photographs, that kind of thing.
How on earth do you get involved in civilian investigative work? volunteering I guess.
I did think they’d be unlikely to take someone on who might pass out during an autopsy for all they know.
Ahh well, bang goes my dream career!
Thanks again for taking the time to answer - much appreciated

As an ex-coroners Officer (some years ago), it was the hardest job I have ever done. There is satisfaction to be had but eventually the never ending parade of the deceased and grieving relatives and the stories they each have are exhausting in every way. It changes you forever.

That said, I don’t regret my time there, it was a fascinating role that taught me a lot about life and death and everything in between. I now have gone in a totally different direction and teach people how to save lives instead.

I’m sorry if it wasn’t what you might have wanted to hear but that was my reality.

Thank you. Grief isn’t something I deal with day to day in my current role either, only occasionally and very briefly. Might be difficult to deal with on a daily basis. I very much doubt I’d have anywhere near the level of experience they would want in regards to the emotional resilience side of the job. I’m glad I asked for advice here before applying, saves wasting their time.

Thank you. Grief isn’t something I deal with day to day in my current role either, only occasionally and very briefly. Might be difficult to deal with on a daily basis. I very much doubt I’d have anywhere near the level of experience they would want in regards to the emotional resilience side of the job. I’m glad I asked for advice here before applying, saves wasting their time.

Thank you. Grief isn’t something I deal with day to day in my current role either, only occasionally and very briefly. Might be difficult to deal with on a daily basis. I very much doubt I’d have anywhere near the level of experience they would want in regards to the emotional resilience side of the job. I’m glad I asked for advice here before applying, saves wasting their time.

Just to add, they had to provide cover 24/7 to be called out, and we only had around 8 in our county, so the hours were quite relentless too. I think they would all say the same as the pp that it changes you, but that they didn't regret it. I volunteered for around a year and have some quite profound memories of that time. In my view, dealing with grief would not be the hardest part (although hard) but with the sheer horror of some of the scenes they had to deal with.

Dealing with people’s grief can be so hard and draining over time. I worked in an area of law where the cases I dealt with pretty much always involved a fatality and as long as it was in the files I managed to disassociate from it, and just work as if it was words (obviously very professionally but didn’t get emotionally involved). Sometimes though I had to go to the inquest and every time I just found it utterly harrowing and dwelt on it for days afterwards. I can still see grieving widows faces years later and remember their stories of lives and plans cut short.
In the end I just found it too sad and moved into a different area of law.

I would encourage you to apply and find out more about the role in your jurisdiction.
I have never ever heard of a civilian coroners officer having to attend a scene (what for!?) and you certainly won’t be attending post mortems!
The coroners removal service is normally a private company - you might have to liaise with them and undertakers out of hours if you are included on a rota. That will be by phone normally.
The coroners officers are normally the organisers and need to be meticulous.
A lot of your job will be taking calls from doctors who are obliged to report the death to the coroner- you will ask questions, compile a short report and serve on the coroner.
You will be responsible for liaising with multiple agencies dealing with families and lots and lots of paperwork!
The content is likely to be grim but depends if you can compartmentalise that- I think a lot of people develop quite a black sense of humour!
No particular background is needed but relevant skills demonstrated.
I’m interested in why you think it’s your dream job? What attracts you to it?

Please please be don’t put off the job by thinking you’ll be scooping up dead bodies when that is not the role at all if you are talking about being a civilian coroners officer- it’s clerical!

@TheNanny23 the job description states:-
Special conditions “-There will be occasions when Coroner’s Officers attend the scene of a death or are present in the mortuary during post mortem examinations and will be in close proximity to the deceased. They will also be required to process and handle toxicology and histology samples whilst complying with the Human Tissue Act.”

It just doesn’t ask for any specific qualifications or experience of emotional resilience, which I found very odd. I wondered if they may train you on the job, so to speak. It focuses on budget control, interview experience, compiling reports, HR issues, dealing with sensitive issues, difficult conversations, compiling meticulous reports etc - things I do now.
I already have a black sense of humour love crime novels, watching that kind of genre on tv- anything gory, find it fascinating. Admittedly the working hours and ‘bringing the job home with me’ angle could prove draining. It states travel abroad, overnight training etc and I have a four year old. I wish I had applied for a police career years ago, but there was never a good time.

If I had lost a loved one in traumatic circumstances, I wouldn't want it to be dealt with someone who had taken the role because they 'have a black sense of humour love crime novels...anything gory'.

Totally agree PrimeraVez, it’s a highly sensitive role dealing with people who have lost loved ones in the most tragic circumstances. Not for someone to peer at and laugh at out of morbid curiosity.

@TheNanny23
A large part of the role for me was attending the scene and in many cases the PM for continuity purposes

Dealing with the bereaved (in often traumatic or unexplained circumstances) is a key component of the role. Unless this is something you could do with upmost sensitivity, please don't apply

I am sure there is a Coroner thread in the "Ask me anything" section

@TheNanny23 I think this must work very differently in different counties, but here it was the coroner's officers that attended scenes and literally moved the body at times - their was no coroner's removal service. They did attend post-mortems where it was believed the death was unlawful.

The Coroner also had an office with clerical staff (not coroner's officers - but it did cause confusion to the public), but it does not sound like this is the role the op is talking about.

If OP is interested they really should call up, go visit, and discuss what the role would be like day to day, and what training they would give. It doesn't have to be your forever job. Yes it would be draining but that might be worth it for a few years.

@DamnedIfIDo

Were you a police liaison coroners officer? I think we are talking about different roles and maybe they are called different things in different places.

I have never known a coroner's officer to attend the scene of a death in England.

They are meticulous though.

@TheNanny23 My title was Coroner’s Officer and whilst employed by the police I worked for the Coroner. I was a civvie and not a police officer.

I dealt with the coroners office after my Dads death. I have to say that I’ve never met a man with more compassion. He made what was (obviously) an awful situation so much easier. I was listened to, he had so much empathy and I really felt he was ‘on my side’. A truly lovely man.

I already have a black sense of humour love crime novels, watching that kind of genre on tv- anything gory, find it fascinating
If you do apply under no circumstances add the above to your application. It's the equivalent of saying you want a career in forensics because you love CSI or you want to be a midwife because you've watched one born every minute.

@Seaglad Thanks so much for the clarification and absolutely agreed that’s what the OP should do.

My experience is from the medical side - the people in the role I’m referring to were called Coroners Officers but were employed by the LA.

It sounds like the role OP is looking at is really different! What a lot of responsibility with no specified experience needed

You need compassion and respect too, you know? Not just some "emotional resilience", whatever you mean by that. Disengaging?

You shouldn't emotional invest in everyone else's lives, no, but you should still be capable of feeling your emotional reactions in response to them - otherwise you lose the ability to treat people with the respect, compassion and basic humanity they deserve. Whether the dead themselves or their grieving survivors.

People can tell when they're being dealt with by someone who doesn't give a shit - and it is damaging.

Your posts make it sound like you've already dehumanised everybody you'd be working for. The way you talk about it is so disrespectful.

As an aside, vicarious trauma means that if you bear witness to other people's traumas enough times you can end up traumatised yourself. It's not uncommon in the emergency services, for example.