Organ Donation Taskforce Guidance
Following recommendations from the Organ Donation Taskforce, a new leaflet has been prepared for Coroners regarding organ donation. Launch meetings have been arranged in London on 16/6/2009 and in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 24/6/2009. There will also be discussion about guidance for Organ Transplant Co-ordinators and representatives from many agencies involved will be there. Coroners Officers often play a significant role in the donation process and are welcome to attend the launch meetings. It is hoped that a number of Coroners Officers will be able to be present. If you are interested please contact the South Staffs Coroner Mr Andrew Haigh at andrew.haigh@staffordshire.gov.uk or on 01785 276127
Missing People
Identification changes at Missing People
The charity Missing People has now ceased its work resolving cases of unidentified people. This change supports the belief of the charity that the main responsibility for identification of these cases lies within the public sector. Missing People will continue to campaign for a national, standard, police system for matching missing person reports to unidentified bodies.
Reporting unidentified cases/database searches
In future all unidentified cases should be reported to the National Policing Improvements Agency (NPIA) Missing Person’s Bureau - www.npia.police.uk/missingpersons or email: missingpersonsbureau@npia.pnn.police.uk They will no longer be registering unidentified cases and will only undertake database searches at the request of NPIA. Should the NPIA wish to search the charity’s historical data on unidentified cases they will then liaise with them.
Forensic artwork for unidentified cases
They will no longer offer forensic artwork services or publicity on unidentified cases. If you require forensic artwork services for unidentified cases, please note that you can contact Teri Blythe via email, call 07812 540085, or gain full details from the NPIA Specialist Operations Unit Database of Expert Advisers.
Summary of responses to the consultation 'Statutory Duty for Doctors and other Public Service Personnel to Report Deaths to the Coroner'
The response paper explains how, following consultation, the Coroners and Death Certification Bill has been amended to include a duty on registered medical practitioners to report specific deaths to the coroner. The Bill now gives the Lord Chancellor the power to make regulations which set out the circumstances in which deaths must be referred to the coroner, in consultation with the Secretary of State for Health and the Chief Coroner. The response paper indicates what we are doing ahead of legislation to take this policy forward. We will work across government and with those who work in the coroners’ service to produce national guidance for and Wales to clarify which deaths should be reported to the coroner. The national guidance will form the basis of the list of reportable deaths in secondary legislation and associated guidance under the Coroners and Death Certification Bill when it is implemented.
The response paper is available on the Ministry of Justice website:
http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/cp1207.htm
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC: SOME CONSULTATION DOCUMENTS
The General Register Office has issued a consultation paper: "Guidance on death registration and associated Death Certification, Coroner and Burial / Cremation processes" which is available on the GRO website. However you can click here to download a copy.
The Department of Health has issued a consultation paper: "Pandemic Influenza: Guidance on the management of death certification and cremation certification" which is available on the DH website. However you can click here to download a copy
JOB VACANCIES
for Coroner's Officers and Assistants, as notified to the site administrator by employers, will be available in this area as pdfs.
There are currently no vacancies known to the COA
Generic job description and person specification
Following enquiries from employers for a standard job description for the role of coroner’s officer, this issue was discussed by the COA with the MoJ coroner’s unit and it was agreed that the COA would develop a generic job description.
The COA training group researched a number of examples from around the country and together with their combined experience as practitioners and managers has now produced for circulation, a generic job description and generic person specification. Click here to download. We consider this accurately reflects the breadth and scope of the role
****MEMBERS: USE YOUR FORUM NOW FOR DISCUSSIONS & CHATS ****
When accessing this site COA members will be able view all the latest announcements, future events, and collaborate with other Coroners Officers on topical issues.
Non-members can find out about:
- the role of the Coroner's Officer
- the history of the COA
- Coroner's Officers' office details
- forthcoming events
- information about joining the Association
THINKING OF JOINING THE COA?
Some benefits of becoming a member are:
- Members receive regular newsletters
- Members have access to the members' area of the COA website
- Members pay reduced fees for COA conferences, symposia and training days
- Members receive advance notification of COA conferences and training events before non-members
- Members are given the opportunity to contribute positively towards our future
- Members have invaluable networking opportunities with other Coroner's Officers
There are some different types of membership available — Full; Affiliate; Associate; Overseas
Full members:
Those persons responsible to one of Her Majesty's Coroners who have an investigative role in the procedure for dealing with sudden, unexpected or unnatural deaths
Full members are eligible to hold position on the Council and are entitled to vote on any matter balloted
Subscription: £60.00 per annum for full membership plus an initial joining fee of £15.00.
Affiliate members:
someone who does not qualify as above but who shows a proper interest in the Association and whose nomination is supported by an existing full or Associate member.
Affiliate members are not eligible to stand as an officer on the Council but may be co-opted to the Council
Affiliate members have no entitlement to vote on any matter balloted
Subscription: £15.00 per annum for Affiliate membership plus an initial joining fee of £3.75
Associate members:
persons who held such a post as defined above prior to their retirement from employment, shall be eligible to remain as members of the Association - providing that they were previously a full member of the Association
Associate members are eligible to hold position on the Council and are entitled to vote on any matter balloted
Subscription: £15.00 per annum for Associate membership plus an initial joining fee of £3.75
Overseas members:
persons who work overseas and perform a similar role to a Coroner's Officer
Overseas members are not eligible to hold position on the Council but are entitled to vote on any matter balloted
Subscription: £15.00 per annum for Overseas membership plus an initial joining fee of £3.75
Student members: someone who is enrolled on a relevant course and is not eligible to be a full member
Such a person's name shall go, with support, to the Council and, if approved, shall be ratified at the next AGM
Subscription: £15.00 per annum for Student membership plus an initial joining fee of £3.75
If you would like to become a member of the Coroner's Officers Association - or would like more information please contact the Membership Coordinator via coa1@ymail.com
