Child Death Review

Child Death Review

The death of every child is a tragedy, and since April 2008 there has been a legal requirement for all child deaths to be reviewed to see whether we can learn lessons in order to improve the health, safety and well-being of children.  This process, which takes place at the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) applies to all children and involves professionals who have been involved with a child’s care.

The purpose of the review is to:

• Reduce the number of childhood deaths
• Identify matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children
• Identify wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or from a pattern of deaths
• Undertake a co-ordinated agency response to all unexpected deaths of children

Notification of a child death

Any agency becoming aware of:

• a child death occurring in Somerset
• a death of a normally resident Somerset child occurring elsewhere

should make a notification using the eCDOP website:  https://www.ecdop.co.uk/PANDorsetSomerset/Live/Public