Child Death Review Process
What is the Child Death Review Process?
As from the 1st April 2008 the government requires Local Safeguarding Boards to review the deaths of all children, up to the age of 18, in their area. The regulations are outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children: Chapter 7.
What is the Purpose of the Child Death Review Process?
The purpose of the child death review process is to collect and analyse information about the death of each child who normally resides in Kirklees, Dewsbury and Batley with a view to identifying any matters of concern affecting the health, safety, welfare of children or any wider public health concerns.
The data is collected from all known agencies that may hold information on a child using data collection forms that can be found here (external link to DCSF)
Rapid Response Team
The Rapid Response Team is a core group of key professionals who come together for the purpose of enquiring into and evaluating each unexpected death of a child. An unexpected death is defined as the death of a child that was not anticipated as a significant possibility 24 hours before the death.
Who evaluates Child Deaths?
Once all the information is collected it is then presented to the Child Death Overview Panel who meet every two months. The panel looks at aspects of each individual case, and the professionals involved, ensuring a thorough investigation of how such deaths may be prevented in the future and to identify
- cases giving rise to the need for a Serious Case Review;
- matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children in Kirklees and
- any wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or from a pattern of deaths in Kirklees
Who Sits on the Kirklees Child Death Overview Panel?
The panel is made up from a fixed senior representation from a wide range of professional backgrounds that can make recommendations to Kirklees Safeguarding Children's Board. Representatives include:
Assistant Director: Public Health
Consultant in Public Health
Serious Case Review Officer: West Yorkshire Police
H.M Coroners Office
Consultant Paediatrician: HRI and CRH
Principle Officer: Child Protection
Assistant Director for Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults: Kirklees PCT
Named Midwife Child Protection: The Mid Yorkshire Hospital NHS Trust
The panel has the option of co-opting a professional if their specialism is appropriate to particular cases
Further information
If you are involved in any way with children, young people and their families within the Kirklees LSCB area and would like more information on the child death review process then please contact
Phil Coneron Safeguarding Children Coordinator
phil.coneron@kirklees.gov.uk
Tel: 01484 225450
