Coroners Court Usher
Gloucestershire
This is a Gloucestershire County Council job.
- Job Title: Coroners Court Usher
- Job Location: Coroners Service
- Salary: £26,016 per annum pro rata
- Contract Type: Casual
- Closing Date: 13/12/2026
- Job Requisition Number: 15194
- This post is not open to job share
About the role
Gloucestershire Coroner's Court is looking to increase its pool of casual Court Ushers to support HM Senior Coroner and the wider Coroners Service at inquest hearings.
As a Court Usher, you will be an important first point of contact for people attending the Coroner's Court. You will welcome bereaved families, witnesses, jurors, legal representatives and other people attending hearings, helping to ensure that proceedings run smoothly and that everyone is treated with dignity, sensitivity and respect.
You will prepare court and hearing rooms, welcome and direct those attending, assist with relevant documentation and work closely with Coroner's Officers and colleagues to support the effective running of hearings.
About you
You do not need previous experience of working in a Coroner's Court, as full training will be provided. Previous knowledge or experience of court procedures may be helpful but is not essential, consistent with the Grade 2 job profile. What is important is your ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with a wide range of people.
People attending the Coroner's Court may be recently bereaved, distressed, vulnerable or unfamiliar with the inquest process. You will therefore need to be compassionate, patient and professional, and understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality and the dignity of all those involved.
You should be approachable, courteous and professional, with the ability to communicate sensitively and clearly. You will need to be comfortable supporting people who may be distressed or anxious, while remaining calm and responding appropriately when circumstances change. You should be organised and able to help hearings run efficiently, work effectively with colleagues as part of a wider team, and be reliable and available to undertake work on a casual, as-required basis.
What you'll be doing
Your duties will include
Your duties will include preparing the courtroom and associated areas before hearings and arriving in sufficient time to ensure that the court is ready before proceedings begin. You will welcome and check in jurors, witnesses, bereaved relatives and other interested persons, direct people to the appropriate locations, and explain court arrangements and etiquette where required.
You will liaise with Coroner's Officers and other colleagues and assist with the smooth running of hearings and the court list. You may also undertake appropriate clerical and administrative duties, help to ensure appropriate access to the building during proceedings, and assist with securing the court accommodation at the end of proceedings.
Working with us
This is an opportunity to undertake an important public-facing role within Gloucestershire's Coroners Service.
Court Ushers play an important part in supporting the administration of justice while helping us provide a professional and compassionate service to bereaved families and everyone who attends the Coroner's Court.
We welcome applications from people with a range of backgrounds and experience. If you believe you have the skills and personal qualities needed for the role, we would encourage you to apply.
Additional Information
To access the Job Profile for this role, please follow the link below:-
Job Profile - Coroner's Court Usher
Due to the number of applications we received, we are unable to provide feedback at shortlisting stage and reserve the right to close the advert early.
Applications from any Gloucestershire County Council's employees who are currently on the redeployment register or at risk of redundancy will be considered first at shortlisting stage.
The council is not currently able to offer sponsorship in this role. Candidates will need to have a right to work that enables them to commit to at least 6 months' employment. Right to work is not transferable from a sponsored role held with another employer.
Gloucestershire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people or vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
It is a legal requirement, under the Immigration Act 2016, that anyone appointed to a ‘customer facing role’ must be able to demonstrate an ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence in fluent English.
We want to be an employer of choice, attracting and retaining excellent people to work for us, so that we can best serve all of Gloucestershire’s diverse communities. Our promise to you is that we will provide an inclusive and supportive working environment that enables you to bring your whole self to work and realise your full potential.