Child Deaths

(Information for Professionals)

From April 2008 all Local Safeguarding Children Boards have had a statutory duty to hold a review whenever a child dies. The procedures to be followed are set out in Chapter 7 of Working Together 2010 to Safeguard Children.

There are two interrelated processes for reviewing child deaths (either of which can trigger a serious case review):

a) rapid response by a group of key professionals who come together for the purpose of enquiring into and evaluating each unexpected death of a child; and

b) an overview of all child deaths (under 18 years) in the local safeguarding children board (LSCB) area(s), undertaken by a panel.

Child death overview panels (CDOPs) are responsible for reviewing information on all child deaths, and are accountable to the LSCB Chair.

Brighton and Hove Child Death Overview Panel

Brighton and Hove has a joint CDOP shared with East Sussex that meets every two months to review the deaths of all children, excluding those who are stillborn, from birth to age 18 years normally resident in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex

The CDOP reviews annually the numbers and patterns of deaths in Brighton and Hove and East Sussex and provides the LSCB and its constituent agencies with an annual report including any recommendations for future practice and reducing the number of preventable deaths.

Notification of Child Deaths - Contact details

If a child or young person (age 0-18 years) dies please notify as a matter of urgency the child death overview panel co-ordinator, details as follows:

Carolyn Minto
Child Death Overview Panel Coordinator (Brighton & Hove)
Children's Safeguarding Unit
St Marks House, 14 Upperton Road
Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 1EP

Telephone No: 01323 463715
Duty Telephone No: 01323 466606
Email: Carolyn.Minto@eastsussex.gov.uk

This applies to all babies/children resident in Brighton and Hove, even if they are out of area at the time of death. Deaths of children who are normally resident in another area should also be reported and the information will be passed onto the relevant co-ordinator once a decision has been made as to which LSCB will coordinate the information gathering.