Coroner’s Officer

We’re recruiting a Coroner’s Officer to join our dedicated Coroners Service at Milton Keynes City Council. This is a rewarding role where your work will directly support bereaved families and help our city understand and respond to sudden and unexpected deaths.

Our team provides independent investigations, clear and compassionate communication, and timely support so families can register deaths and make funeral arrangements without unnecessary delay. Through inquests and Prevention of Future Deaths reports, the service helps improve public safety, health and safeguarding across the community. By working closely with local services and partners, the team builds public trust, protects vulnerable people and reduces the risk of similar deaths in the future. As part of Regulatory Services, you’ll work closely with experienced colleagues in a small, supportive specialist team. You’ll balance investigative work, court preparation and family liaison, often in sensitive and complex situations. This role matters because the quality of coronial investigations has a lasting impact on families, professionals and the wider community.

Site-Based role

This is a Site-Based role, and you’ll be expected to work from the designated workplace. You will take part in an on‐call rota and may be required to attend incidents outside normal working hours.

Main Responsibility

• Gather and collate evidence from multiple agencies to support coronial investigations.
• Attend death scenes where required and support examinations in line with legal directions.
• Manage forensic, pathological and disclosure processes, including actions arising from Prevention of Future Deaths reports.
• Plan, administer and support inquests, including complex and long‐running cases.
• Act as a key point of contact for bereaved families, providing clear, empathetic and timely communication.
• Arrange the care, transfer and lawful handling of the deceased and personal possessions.
• Work closely with police, health services, prisons, funeral directors and other statutory partners on behalf of the Coroner.
• Support urgent and specialist matters such as organ donation and repatriation when required.

The Ideal Candidate

• Relevant experience or knowledge of coronial, legal, medical or investigative work.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and producing clear, accurate written reports.
• Ability to work independently, prioritise competing demands and meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills and sound judgement in complex and sensitive situations.
• Emotional resilience and the ability to communicate with compassion and clarity.
• Confidence managing challenging conversations while maintaining personal safety.

Full UK Driving Licence and access to a vehicle

To be successful in this role, you’ll need a full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle. If we offer you the role, we’ll ask you to provide evidence of your driving licence and vehicle insurance, including cover for business use. We’re unable to confirm an appointment until these documents are received. As part of the pre-employment checks, should you be offered the role, we’ll carry out an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, (unless you are currently registered with the DBS Update Service).

Package Description

• Great holiday benefits - most roles include 28 days annual leave every year on top of public (bank) holidays, increasing to 32 days after five years. In addition, there is a holiday purchase scheme allowing staff to purchase up to 5 additional days of leave each year.
• Excellent pension – everyone who works for us can join the national Local Government Pension Scheme, widely regarded as one of the best available.
• A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity support and a childcare subsidy.
• Access to an award-winning employee benefits programme that includes a health cash plan, a low-cost bike purchase scheme as well as high street discounts and money off entertainment and travel.
• Salary sacrifice car scheme – low-cost leasing of electric and low emission vehicles.
• Blue Light Card - employees working within social care can qualify for an additional range of discounts from national retailers and local businesses.

Milton Keynes City Council is a large, modern and financially stable employer with around 2,500 people working across our eight areas. Together we provide local residents and businesses with a wide range of important round-the-clock services and aim to make our city a better place to live. We work hard because of the demands placed on us, like protecting children from harm or preventing homelessness. However, working for the city is always rewarding and everyone has the opportunity to make a real difference. We’re very proud of our diversity and are committed to having a workforce that reflects the community we serve. Whatever your background, you will be welcome here if you share our values of being dedicated, respectful and collaborative. We offer great training and support and because of the size and scale of the organisation there are always new opportunities to explore when it’s time for a new role.