8.1 Child Death Review Process (including Rapid Response Process and Child Death Overview Panel Process) |
Contents
- Why Review Child Deaths?
- Who is responsible for undertaking the reviews in Oxfordshire?
- How can I found out more about Child Death Review Processes?
- What to do in the event of a Child's death
- Training for professionals to raise awareness of Child Death Review Processes
1. Why Review Child Deaths?
From April 2008, the Local Safeguarding Boards have a statutory function to manage a child death review process. Deaths of all children, up to the age of 18 years, need to be reviewed, taking into account all available information for each death. The principles underlying the review of all child deaths are:
- Every child's death is a tragedy for the family and for the wider community.
- By reviewing child deaths we can learn lessons to prevent future child deaths.
- Joint agency working draws on the skills and particular responses of each professional group.
- Child Death Reviews should lead to positive action to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
The overarching goal of this process is to reduce the number of child deaths. The review aims to ensure that there is a full understanding of the events leading to the child's death. The recommendations arising from a review should lead to improved services for children and their families, both at local and national level.
2. Who is responsible for undertaking the reviews in Oxfordshire?
OSCB (Oxfordshire Safeguarding Children Board) is charged under the Children Act 2004 to establish a Child Death Overview process, which includes a Rapid Response function and the CDOP (Child Death Overview Panel).
The Rapid Response process (RRP) is a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary review of all unexpected child deaths. Professionals involved in this process provide initial support to the family and help to inform the subsequent CDOP review process.
An unexpected death is defined (in 7.21 of Working Together to Safeguard Children 2010) as the death of an infant or child (less than 18 years old) which:
- was not anticipated as a significant possibility i.e. 24 hours before the death;
or - where there was a similarly unexpected collapse or incident leading to or precipitating the events which led to the death.
The CDOP panel includes lay members, professionals from Health and Social Care, the Police, Ambulance Service, Bereavement Support and Coroner's office and is chaired by a public health consultant from Oxfordshire PCT. For specialist advice, additional professionals are co-opted to join the Panel. The CDOP meets bi-monthly. On concluding each review, the Panel makes recommendations which can include matters affecting the safety and welfare of children in Oxfordshire and wider public health concerns.
3. How can I found out more about Child Death Review Processes?
Chapter 7 in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) gives a detailed overview of Child Death Review Processes.
The DCSF (now known as Department for Education) have produced an information booklet for bereaved families, explaining the Child Deaths Review process.
4. What to do in the event of a Child's death
All deaths should be reported on the following number: 01865 231959.
The deaths of all babies / children under 18 years resident in Oxfordshire, regardless of where the deaths took place, should be notified. Deaths of children not normally resident in the Oxfordshire area and who die here should also be notified; this information will be passed onto the relevant Panel who will then coordinate the information gathering.
5. Training for professionals to raise awareness of Child Death Review Processes
- A briefing session is available upon request from the CDOP Manager.
- The OSCB Training Co-ordinator has ensured that information about this process has been incorporated into child protection training.
- A leaflet for professionals is available upon request from the CDOP Manager.
Contacts:
Julieann Exley
CDOP Manager
01865 231974
Julieann.exley@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk
Dr John Shaw
Designated Doctor for Child Deaths
01865 231959
Dr Ljuba Stirzaker
Chair of the Oxfordshire CDOP
01865 336887
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