Unexpected child death process

Unexpected child death

  • Ambulance and police immediate response.
  • Assess immediate risks and concerns.
  • Consider needs of siblings and other family members.

Safeguarding

  • Consider abuse or neglect.
  • Inform social care and police.
  • Police and social care to support risk assessment.

First 2 to 4 hours

  • Child and carer(s) transferred to hospital with child, if appropriate.
  • Resuscitation continued or decision to stop - police are notified.
  • Lead police investigator attends hospital.
  • If child taken straight to mortuary, lead police investigator and coroners’ officer to inform designated doctor for child death.
  • Responsible clinician confirms death (supports parents).
  • Initial discussion between responsible clinician and attending police officer.
  • Responsible clinician jointly attends with police officer, takes initial history from parents or carers, carries out examination and immediate investigations.

Notify as soon as possible the Coroner’s Officer and Social Care (If not already informed).

Initial 24 to 48 hours

  • Initial information sharing between responsible clinician, police and social care.
  • Decisions made about immediate actions, recorded on discussion form.
  • Consideration of Sec 47 strategy meeting.
  • Consideration of joint home visit within 24 hours during working hours Monday to Friday or as soon as possible on the next working day. Police discuss and arrange visit with the Children’s Community Nurse Team. Leave messages for:
    • Designated doctor
    • NNCP

If agreed:

  • Joint home visit by TVP police and Rapid Response Service nurse.
  • Sec 47 strategy meeting, chaired by Childrens Services.

Notify:

  • GP, Health Visitor, school nurse
  • Other health organisations
  • Other agencies such as school or college
  • CDOP on eCDOP

Next working day

  • Information sharing discussion between Designated Doctor, CAIU DI, Team Lead and Children’s Services Team Lead.
  • Decision about need for and timing of initial Health led Joint Agency Response (JAR) meeting.
  • Responsible clinician provides a report, including a copy of clinical notes, for the coroner and pathologist.
  • Designated Doctor provides final JAR minutes to coroner and pathologist.
  • Coroner arranges post mortem.
  • Post mortem and ancillary investigations.
  • Preliminary and final post mortem report provided to coroner and with coroner’s agreement, to designated doctor and responsible clinician.
  • Follow up appointments for family.

Within 3 months if post mortem report available

  • Child Death Review Meeting (CDRM). 
  • CDRM report provided to coroner, if prior to Inquest CDOP and CCG.

At 6 months if post mortem report available and inquest held

  • Coroner’s pre-inquest and Inquest.
  • Child Death Overview Panel.