Child Death Review Process

New Solihull LSCB Function to Review All  Child Deaths

Why review child deaths?

From April 2008 all LSCB’s have a statutory duty to hold a review whenever a Child dies. These are called ‘Child Death Reviews’

Solihull LSCB aims to ensure that by doing this there is a full understanding of what happened and of whether anything would help to prevent similar deaths in the future for other children in our area.

What is the Review for?

Every Child’s Death is a tragedy. Through completing a full review valuable lessons can be learnt that could help children and families in the future.

Who will do the Reviews?

A Child Death Review Panel made up from professionals from a number of Agencies. Additional professionals will be co-opted to join the panel when necessary if specialist advice is needed. Solihull Child Death Review Panel sat for the first time in June 2008 and will meet up to six times a year depending on the number of cases to be reviewed.

Twice a year the data collected by the Solihull Child Death Review Panel will be considered by a Regional Overview Panel consisting of Members from Coventry Safeguarding Children Board, Solihull Safeguarding Children Board and Warwickshire Safeguarding Children Board.

How can I found out more about Child Death Review Processes?

Chapter 7 in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006) gives a detailed overview of Child Death Review Processes. It describes particularly the Child Death Review Process being:
A Rapid response by a group a key professional who come together for the purpose of enquiring into and evaluating each unexpected death of a child.
An overview of all child deaths in the area, undertaken by a panel.

It describes the purpose of Child Death Overview as being:

Collecting and analysing information about each death with a view to identifying:
Any case giving rise to the need for a serious case review.
Any matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children in the area of the authority.
Any wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or from a pattern of deaths in that area.

Principles underlying the reviewing of all child deaths

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.

What about training to raise awareness of Child Death Review Processes?

The Child Death Review Panel have already successfully completed initial training to enable them to carryout their new statutory duties.

There will be more information about the development of Child Death review functions in the Solihull LSCB news letter and on this website.
Any training will also be advertised on the training pages on the Solihull LSCB web site.

How do I report the death of a child?

You should fax a copy of Form A to the Child Death Review Manager.  The fax number is 01926 742394

Who can I contact if I need to know more?

Dara Lloyd is the Child Death Review Manager and can be contacted by writing to:
Safeguarding Quality Assurance and Service Development
Directorate for Children, Young People and Families
Warwickshire County Council
Building 3, Saltisford Park
Ansell Way
Warwick
CV34 4UL
01926 742279