Child Death Overview Panel
The death of a child is a devastating loss which profoundly affects all those involved. Since April 2008, all deaths of children up to the age of 18 years, excluding stillbirths and planned terminations, are reviewed by CDOP to comply with the statutory requirement set out in Working Together 2023. In the event of a birth which is not attended by a healthcare professional, child death partners may carry out initial enquiries to determine whether the baby was born alive. If the baby was born alive then the death must be reviewed.
The Children Act 2004 requires Child Death Review (CDR) Partners, (6 Local Authorities from 1 ICB in our footprint) to ensure arrangements are in place to carry out child death reviews, including the establishment of a CDOP. The reviews are conducted in accordance with Working Together 2023 alongside the Statutory and Operational Guidance (England) 2018.
The North and South of Tyne CDOP panel is multi-agency and the process is carried out for all children resident in the 6 Local Authority areas regionally. Legislation allows for CDR partners to arrange for review of a death of a child not normally resident there. This process is pragmatic with consideration given to where the most learning can take place.
In April 2019 the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD) became operational and is populated directly with the relevant data from eCDOP, a cloud-based information management system commissioned by the CDR partners for use across our footprint.
The purpose of the panel is to:
-Ascertain why a child has died by a thorough but proportionate review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the death,
-Determine the contributory and modifiable factors,
-Make recommendations to all relevant organisations where actions have been identified which may prevent further deaths or promote the health, safety, and well-being of children,
-Provide detailed data to NCMD which is analysed nationally and regular reports are produced e.g. on the impact of deprivation on child deaths,
-Produce an annual report highlighting local trends and patterns and any actions taken by the panel.
-Contribute to the wider learning locally, regionally, and nationally
The CDOP is not commissioned to undertake public health campaigns or deliver interventions arising from the learning from reviews, rather it relies on its' partners in the Health and Well-being Boards and the Safeguarding Children Partnerships to incorporate the lessons learned into policy and develop appropriate interventions.
Progress made by the South of Tyne CDOP is reported in its Annual Report of 2022/23.
North and South of Tyne CDOP annual report April 22-March 23
[1] CA 2004
[2] Children & SW Act 2017
[3] CDR Statutory & Operational Guidance 2018