Child Death Overview Panel
What is the child death review process?
Since 1 April 2008 Local Safeguarding Children Partnership have been required to review the deaths of all children in their area. The regulations are outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018: Chapter 5.
The purpose of the child death review process is to collect and analyse information from known agencies about the death of each child who normally resides in Kirklees with a view to identifying any matters of concern affecting the health, safety, or welfare of children, or any wider public health concerns.
Process for reporting a child death
The Kirklees Safeguarding Children Partnership will be asking for all notifications to be made through a new secure online portal.
Please use the following link to access the secure site and make a notification.
What is the rapid response team and the Process for rapid Response?
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?
Data is presented to the Child Death Overview Panel which meets every two months. The panel looks at aspects of each individual case, and the professional agencies that have had involvement, ensuring a thorough investigation of each case to identify
- how deaths might be prevented in the future;
- 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 of senior representatives from a range of agencies including:
- Public Health
- Consultant in Public Health
- Serious Case Review Officer: West Yorkshire Police
- H.M Coroners Office
- Consultant Paediatrician: Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Calderdale Royal Hospital, and Dewsbury District Hospital
- Assistant Director for Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults: NHS Kirklees
- Matron for Maternity Services
The panel has the option of co-opting a professional if their specialism is appropriate to a particular case.
CDOP Annual Report
- Kirklees CDOP Annual Report 2021-2022
- Kirklees CDOP Annual Report 2022-2023
- Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield Annual CDOP Report 2022-2023
- Kirklees CDOP annual report 2023-2024
Local Resources
Details of organisations offering bereavement support services in Kirklees and Calderdale.
- CDOP Newsletter September 2020
- CDOP Newsletter Dec 2020
- CDOP Newsletter Feb 2021
- CDOP Newsletter May 2021
- CDOP Newsletter August 2021
- CDOP Newsletter July 2022
Guidance Notes
WY procedures
National Resources
- The Child Death Review – a guide for parents and carers
- Sudden Infant & Early Childhood Death (SIDS) and Co-sleeping: www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/
- Child Death Review: Statutory and Operational Guidance (England)
- www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-death-review-statutory-and-operational-guidance-england
- www.workingtogetheronline.co.uk/chapters/chapter_five.html
- Translated Dog Safety Factsheets
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