Child Deaths

The death of a child is always tragic. Talking and thinking about a child’s death is a sensitive and painful subject which is particularly upsetting for parents, families and carers.  

The reviewing of child deaths is statutory for local safeguarding partnerships in England.  The purpose of the processes is to try to understand how a child has died and then put in place interventions to protect other children and prevent future deaths wherever possible from learning. 

It is intended that the Child Death Review process will:-

• Document and try to understand the cause of death so that parents/guardians and the wider family can come to terms with the death of their child.
• Enable parents/guardians and professionals to take steps to prevent the deaths of any other children where possible.
• Identify patterns of deaths in a community so that preventable or avoidable hazards that may contribute to deaths can be recognised and reduced.
• Contribute to the improved collection of forensic evidence in the very small proportion of deaths where there might be concerns about the cause of death being non-accidental.
• Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership will work together to co-ordinate the review of child deaths and share learning to help safeguard children across Cumbria.

To view Cumbria’s CDOP arrangements see:- Cumbria Child Death Review Arrangements