Working Together to Safeguard Children gives Safeguarding Children Boards the duty to review ALL child deaths in their area, regardless of the cause of death. The purpose of this review process is to establish the cause of death and ultimately, to establish whether the death could have been prevented.

Working Together to Safeguard Children gives two duties:

• For Safeguarding Children Boards to provide a rapid response to investigate all cases where a child dies suddenly or unexpectedly (SUDIC)
• For Safeguarding Children Board to establish a panel to have an overview of ALL child deaths, regardless of nature or cause.

In cases where a child dies suddenly or unexpectedly, a nominated paediatrician with SUDIC responsibility will immediately begin to undertake enquiries. In cases where the cause of the death is immediately apparent, this process may be straightforward. However in some cases, these enquiries may be more complex, and may involve investigative work, and consultation with any other professionals who knew the child. The process is required to support the work of the Coroner by providing a report no later than 28 days after the death. The death is discussed at a multi-agency case discussion that is held once the final Post Mortem results are available (ideally no later than 2-4 months after the death).

Once the SUDIC process is completed, the death will be reviewed by the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), which sits on a bi-monthly basis to review ALL child deaths. The SUDIC paediatrician will provide a detailed report for the Panel.

In Wakefield, the CDOP is chaired by Dr Gill Pinder (Consultant in Public Health Medicine, NHS Wakefield District) and administrated by Jan Shakespeare. The Panel consists of representatives from all parts of the Wakefield health “community” as well as representatives of Family Services. As part of the review process, any professional agencies that knew the child will be required to complete a questionnaire that provides the CDOP with background information, to assist in the review process. The questionnaires are designed and produced by the DCSF.

Families are notified of the CDOP process, but do not attend the CDOP meetings, and do not receive specific feedback on the discussions that were held.

All concerned with the SUDIC and CDOP processes are aware that any child death is a tragedy for his or her family, and are aware of the need to treat families with sensitivity, discretion and respect at all times. The CDOP also recognises that the death of a child can also be a tragedy for professionals who knew them, and it is important to recognise this and liaise with people accordingly.

It is important to know that the SUDIC and CDOP processes are not the same as a Serious Case Review. However occasionally, the SUDIC and CDOP processes may run alongside a Serious Case Review. On rare occasions, investigations under the SUDIC or CDOP processes may uncover information that then leads to a Serious Case Review.

If you would like more information about these processes, you can find information in Chapter 7 of Working Together to Safeguard Children, or can contact the Wakefield and District Safeguarding Children Board on wdscb@wakefield.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can contact:

CDOP Contact details:
Dr Gill Pinder  gillian.pinder@wdpct.nhs.uk
Jan Shakespeare jan.shakespeare@wdpct.nhs.uk
Richard Fawcett  rfawcett@wakefield.gov.uk