Family Assistance Coordinator

Family Assistance Coordinator

Employment Type: 2 - Part-time Temporary

Pay Range: $25.43 - 39.10

Location: Castle Rock, CO

Overtime Exempt: N

Elected Office / Department: CORONER

The Family Assistance Coordinator is responsible for coordinating death investigation information and assisting families in understanding the role of the coroner in the death of their loved one. Including decedents of violent crimes, accidental deaths, suicide, and natural deaths. This position performs various administrative and analytical duties for the Coroner's Office.

Work is characterized by engaging families of decedents that fall under the coroner's jurisdiction, review of case management, and the day-to-day administrative duties of the Coroner's Office. The Family Assistance Coordinator must pay strict attention to detail, be able to multitask, and take initiative. Work involves a variety of sensitive and highly confidential material. The ideal candidate is organized, self-motivated, adaptable, detail-oriented, and can work under heightened emotional situations and unpleasant conditions while maintaining a positive and professional attitude.

The Family Assistance Coordinator represents the Coroner's Office and is involved in a myriad of interpersonal contacts. Such contacts require high interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, tact, discretion, etiquette, and good judgment.

Generally, the hiring range is $25.43-$31.79 per hour. Qualifications, education and experience as it relates to the position will be taken into consideration when determining hiring salary.

This positions is not eligible for benefits.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:(The following examples are illustrative only and are not intended to be all inclusive. The Douglas County Coroner reserves the right to modify or change the duties or essential functions of the job at any time.)

• Composes, prepares, transcribes, and/or reviews various written documents, independently or at the coroner's direction.

• May respond to death scenes and/or attend autopsies.

• Conduct death notification to the decedent's next of kin.

• May function as a direct point of contact and liaison to the bereaved: answers questions, advises, and makes referrals.

• Provide information about the coroner's office and as soon after the death as possible.

• Gathers information from coroner administration and/or investigators in reference to the cause of death, type of injuries, and what information may be released to families.

• May assist in obtaining release with next of kin for final disposition.

• May coordinate with mortuary/funeral homes for release of remains.

• Contact family members as requested by Coroner management to gather pertinent information in relation to the death.

• Arrange for requested conferences with the coroner management and/or pathologist.

• Encourage family members to call any time with questions or concerns.

• Maintain a log of cases to be tracked and provide updates on all cases in progress.

• Maintain communication with the appropriate law enforcement agencies regarding families being served to maximize assistance in coordinating contacts and information exchange.

• Keep case files updated with documentation of case progress.

• Responsible for providing resources to families of all case types.

• Responsible for interacting with families for as long as necessary after the death.

• Operates various office equipment, such as computers, fax machines, scanners, printers, copiers, and recorders.

• Answers telephones, greets the public, and performs clerical tasks as needed.

• Operates county response vehicles and equipment.

• May be re-assigned in emergency situations.

• The essential (primary/main) tasks or duties that need to be done in order to get the

• Develop and maintain working relationships with various mental health resources, law enforcement agencies, other local, state, and federal agencies, and funeral homes.

• Problem-solving situations may develop based on the experience and policies of the coroner's office.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Working under the direct supervision of the Coroner.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: None

INDEPENDENT JUDGMENT: Must have the ability to assess complex situations and problems to determine appropriate course of action, demonstrating commitment to compliance of policy, procedure, and all applicable laws, in the absence of the Coroner and/or Chief Deputy Coroner.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• A High School Diploma, or GED equivalent required.

• Three years of related experience (experience working with or for a coroner/medical examiner's office, law enforcement agency, or other related experience such as a funeral home, health care, mental health, social work, etc.) required.

• Intermediate advocate level through COVA and NOVA preferred.

• A combination of education and experience may be considered.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge:

• The body of information required of someone to do the job.

• Knowledge of Colorado Revised Statutes pertaining to the coroner.

• Knowledge of forensic investigation and interviewing techniques and practices, chain of custody, death certificate

• processes, and probable causes of death under a wide variety of circumstances.

• Knowledge of modern office equipment, including computer equipment, and operate computer programs such as Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other software applications.

Skills:

• The ability to use one's knowledge effectively and readily in execution or in performance of duties.

• Skilled in providing comfort and assistance to those grieving a loss.

• Skilled in professionally and effectively engaging in difficult conversations and conflict resolution, communicating clearly and concisely in stressful situations, and conversing with personnel, bereaved family members, and stakeholders.

• Skilled in basic document preparation, formal report writing, and business letter writing.

• Skilled in written and verbal communication requiring information to be expressed in an understanding and empathetic way when working with bereaved family members and the public.

Abilities:

• The mental capability needed to perform a task.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general technical procedures and governmental regulations.

• Ability to write concise and accurate reports.

• Ability to communicate effectively in English both orally and in writing.

• Ability to exercise mature judgment and react effectively and professionally in emergency and stressful situations.

• Ability to drive County vehicles in adverse conditions.

• Ability to maintain on-call availability in an emergency situation.

• Ability to maintain professional composure and communicate and work effectively with County staff, bereaved families, law enforcement officials, pathologists, physicians, lawyers, emergency room personnel, and the general public.

• Ability to function successfully in high-stress situations, implement effective courses of action, and draw appropriate conclusions.

• Ability to have access to reliable method of transportation.

CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSES, & REGISTRATIONS:

• Must possess a valid Colorado Driver's License upon hire, with complying insurance. Review of motor vehicle record is required at time of hire and periodically throughout employment.

• This position requires successful completion of a criminal background check including fingerprinting through a national database.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Physical Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Work may occur in a typical office setting, morgue, private residence, on highways, at mountain terrain or a variety of other settings. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may work in various types of inclement, outside weather conditions and may be exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, environmental hazards, biohazards, or blood borne pathogens. Must be able to tolerate working with formalin fixative. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, see, and hear clearly. The employee frequently is required to walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to stand and/or sit for long periods of time. The employee must regularly lift, push, pull and/or move up to one hundred (100) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus and distinguish colors.

Material and Equipment Directly Used: Office equipment, basic hand tools, power tools and small motorized equipment and vehicles.

Other Necessary Requirements

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Closing Date: 6/28/2024 5:59PM MST. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

The job details outlined in this posting may represent a modified summary of the full job description. For a full copy of the job description CLICK HERE to view our job classifications.

In the event of an emergency/disaster in or near the County, all County employees are expected to make every effort to be available to assist the County Manager, Elected/Appointed Officials and Department Directors to ensure the continued operation of any and all necessary County functions. This may mean being available to perform additional duties and hours beyond what is normally required. In the event that an exempt employee does work more than 40 hours a week in support of County operations during an emergency, such employee may receive overtime or other appropriate wage compensation in accordance with existing County policies or at the discretion of the County.