Child Death Overview Panels
Last updated: May 12, 2011
Table of Contents
Please see CDOP updates and briefing 2011 regarding new systems in place in Greater Manchester CDOPS to allow common recording and reporting of information. You should continue to liaise with your CDOP Administrator/Manager as usual regarding deaths in your area.
1. Introduction
As part of their compulsory functions relating to child deaths Local Safeguarding Children Boards [LSCB] were required to have in place a child death overview panel from 1 April 2008. [Working Together to Safeguard Children] The child death overview panel [CDOP] is responsible for the collection and analysis of information about the deaths of all children in its area with a view to identifying any:
- matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children in the CDOP’s area, including any case giving rise to the need for a serious case review;
- general public health or safety concerns arising from deaths of children.
There are two inter-related 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
- an overview of all child deaths, under the age of 18 years, in each LSCB area undertaken by a CDOP
The professionals enquiring into and evaluating all unexpected child deaths are expected to reach conclusions about whether and how such deaths could have been prevented, and for undertaking an overview of the deaths of all children normally resident in the LSCB area. When a child dies unexpectedly there may be several investigative processes instigated particularly when abuse or neglect is a factor.
All the relevant professionals and organisations work are required to work together in a co-ordinated way in order to minimize duplication and ensure that the lessons learnt contribute to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in the future.
