The Coroner's Court course

Course information
Date
Course start date is passed
Level
Higher Trainee
Locations
Online
Length and time
9:00 - 17:00
Course information
Date
Course start date is passed
Level
Higher Trainee
Locations
Online
Length and time
9:00 - 17:00
About the course

One of the most challenging aspects of working in mental health is experiencing the death of a patient who has been under your care. In many cases, the death is referred to the coroner to hold an inquest. This is an investigation into the cause of death and, in some circumstances considers what action can be taken to prevent future deaths. Being involved in a coroner's inquest is a very real and anxiety-provoking prospect for many clinicians. For the families of the deceased, it is unimaginably distressing.

This one-day interactive online course aims to cover everything you need to know about the coroner’s court, including the impact on families, and to help you gain skills and confidence in the preparation and writing of reports and giving oral evidence. The course is led by a practising Coroner, an experienced mental health lawyer, and consultant psychiatrist, with invaluable contributions from families who have lost loved ones in mental health and custodial settings, and their legal representative.

The morning sessions will focus on learning about the inquest process and roles of different individuals involved. The afternoon sessions will give you an opportunity to join a report writing workshop and to role-play common coroner’s court scenarios. We also consider the emotional impact of inquests on clinicians and families and where to access support.

Course highlights
  • Introductory sessions led by a practicing coroner and experienced mental health lawyer outlining the investigation and inquest process, including Article 2 inquests and interested persons
  • Practical training on report writing and preparing for hearings, with good practice examples
  • Interactive training on giving oral evidence, with the opportunity for role-play using simulation methodology and answering questions from a coroner and lawyer
  • Reflective learning discussions with case examples
  • Insights from families who have suffered the loss of a relative under mental health services and their legal representative
Learning objectives
  • To understand the purpose and role of the coroner’s inquest
  • To gain an understanding of the different individuals involved in an inquest and their roles and responsibilities
  • To write thorough and effective reports for coroners’ inquests
  • To gain confidence in giving oral evidence openly and effectively in this setting, including responding to questions
  • To understand conclusions and verdicts, including Preventing Future Death findings
  • To gain an appreciation of the impact of inquests on teams and individuals, including the experiences and challenges faced by families following the death of a loved one under mental health services
  • To recognise and address potential individual and team challenges that may arise


Course schedule

Target audience
All SLaM psychiatry specialist registrars are welcome to attend. Spaces will be offered to other SLaM doctors and managers if they arise
Select the type of ticket you would like to purchase
Commission options
Whatwedo 02 04 07

Group bookings

Discounted rates are available for group bookings. Please contact us for more information. Maudsley Learning has a full range of courses to meet the needs of your organisation. Most can be delivered to you flexibly and tailored to your requirements.

Whatwedo 02 04 06

Bespoke courses

We are able to offer custom-made programs, whether digital or face to face, to meet the education and training needs of your organisation in the UK or internationally.

Whatwedo 02 04 05

Research

We value research and knowledge-sharing and will continue to contribute to the literature base on mental health education, addressing important research questions in this exciting field.