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282 <h2>
282 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child in Need)
282 </h2>
284 </div>
287 <div id="scope_box">
288 <h3>
288 SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
288 </h3>
289 <p>
289 This procedure outlines the immediate steps to be taken in the event of the death of or serious
injury to a child living in the community (where there are suspicions of abuse or neglect) and the
death of/serious injury to any Looked After Child (whether or not the abuse or neglect is known
or suspected).
289 </p>
290 <p>
290 These steps are in addition to any Rapid Review or Child Safeguarding Practice Review which may be
commissioned and the work of the Child Death Overview Panel.
290 </p>
291 This procedure uses the expression Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury to a Child). This
Designated Manger must also be notified in circumstances where there is a serious injury to a child.
292 <h3>
292 AMENDMENT
292 </h3>
293 <p>
293 This chapter was updated throughout in October 2019 to reflect Working Together to Safeguard
Children (2018) and the process for reporting a serious incident to the Panel via the Child
Safeguarding Incident Notification System.
293 </p>
294 </div>
295 <div id="sections">
297 <h3 id="sections_list">
297 Contents
297 </h3>
298 <ol>
299 <li>
299 <a href="#to_chi_community">
299 Death of or Serious Injury to a Child in the Community where there are Suspicions of Abuse or
Neglect
299 </a>
299 </li>
300 <li>
300 <a href="#death_serious">
300 Death of, or Serious Injury, to a Looked After Child in Care
300 </a>
300 </li>
301 <li>
301 <a href="#needs_social_worker">
301 Needs of Social Workers / Team / Manager / Carers
301 </a>
301 </li>
302 </ol>
303 <h3 id="to_chi_community">
303 1. Death of or Serious Injury of a Child in the Community where there are Suspicions of Abuse or
Neglect
303 </h3>
304 <p>
304 See also
304 <a href="files/notification_categories.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
304 Notification Categories
304 </a>
304 .
304 </p>
305 <p>
305 Local authorities in England must notify the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel
(the Panel) within 5 working days of becoming aware of a serious incident.
305 </p>
306 <p>
306 Serious incidents which should be reported are those where the local authority knows or suspects
that a child has been abused or neglected and:
306 </p>
307 <ul>
308 <li>
308 The child dies (including suspected suicide) or is seriously harmed in the local authority's
area;
308 </li>
309 <li>
309 While normally resident in the local authority's area, the child dies or is seriously harmed
outside England.
309 </li>
310 </ul>
311 <p>
311 The following tasks are also required:
311 </p>
312 <table class="borderless" title="section 1 - Death of or Serious Injury of a Child in the
Community">
313 <tr>
314 <td>
314 <p>
314 1.1
314 </p>
314 </td>
315 <td>
315 <p>
315 The child's social worker or, if not previously known to Children's Social Care unallocated,
the duty worker receiving the information will:
315 </p>
316 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
317 <li>
317 Immediately inform their line manager;
317 </li>
318 <li>
318 Obtain as much information as possible on the circumstances surrounding the cause of
death/serious injury and pass this to the line manager;
318 </li>
319 <li>
319 Follow the Bexley serious incident notification process to ensure the deputy director is
notified.
319 </li>
320 </ol>
320 </td>
321 </tr>
322 <tr>
323 <td style="width:3%">
323 <p>
323 1.2
323 </p>
323 </td>
324 <td>
324 <p>
324 The line manager will immediately consult the
324 <a href="http://www.bexleylscb.org.uk/page.php?section=section_4&id=301"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
324 Child Death Overview Panel
324 </a>
324 process and the Rapid Response Protocol.
324 </p>
324 </td>
325 </tr>
326 <tr>
327 <td style="width:3%">
327 <p>
327 1.3
327 </p>
327 </td>
328 <td>
328 <p>
328 The Bexley Safeguarding Partnership Serious Child Safeguarding Incident Procedure will be
followed and the partnership will decide on the next steps, including making a Child
Safeguarding Incident Notification. To view see
328 <a href="http://www.bexleylscb.org.uk/page.php?section=section_4&id=301a"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
328 Child Death Overview Panel - CDOP
328 </a>
328 .
328 </p>
329 <p>
329 Local authorities should use the
329 <a href="https://childsafeguarding.education.gov.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
329 Child Safeguarding Incident Notification System
329 </a>
329 to notify the Panel. The Panel, will share all notifications with Ofsted and the DfE. The
report is submitted online and the contents entered must be reviewed by the Designated
Manager before it is submitted. The form requires a range of information and is set out
clearly in sections. Before you start you will need:
329 </p>
330 <ul>
331 <li>
331 Your sign in;
331 </li>
332 <li>
332 Your phone number and email address;
332 </li>
333 <li>
333 Name of each child you are notifying;
333 </li>
334 <li>
334 Details of the incident.
334 </li>
335 </ul>
336 <p>
336 A copy of the completed form should be saved and printed out for the records.
336 </p>
337 <p>
337 In urgent situations, the Deputy Director or Director of Children's Services should
telephone Ofsted on 0300 123 1231 and then complete the form. Email
337 <a href="mailto:mailbox.nationalreviewpanel@education.gov.uk" target="_blank"
rel="noopener">
337 mailbox.nationalreviewpanel@education.gov.uk
337 </a>
337 if you have any queries.
338 </p>
339 <p>
339 Where a Child Safeguarding Practice Review is to be held, this must be conducted in
accordance with the
339 <a href="http://www.bexleylscb.org.uk/page.php?section=section_4&id=301"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
339 Bexley Safeguarding Partnership Procedures
339 </a>
339 .
339 </p>
339 </td>
340 </tr>
341 </table>
342 <h3 id="death_serious">
342 2. Death of, or Serious Injury, to a Looked After Child in Care
342 </h3>
343 <p>
343 Where information comes to notice of the death of or serious injury to a child in care, the
following tasks are required.
343 </p>
344 <table class="borderless" title="section 2 - Death of or Serious Injury to a Child in Care">
345 <tr>
346 <td>
346 <p>
346 2.1
346 </p>
346 </td>
347 <td>
347 <p>
347 The child's social worker will:
347 </p>
348 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
349 <li>
350 <p>
350 Immediately inform their line manager and seek support in dealing with the additional
responsibilities below;
350 </p>
351 </li>
352 <li>
352 Complete the serious incident notification to the deputy director - See
352 <a href="p_ser_incid_notif_pol.html">
352 Bexley Serious Incident Notification Policy
352 </a>
352 . Notify the parent(s) immediately and in person, if possible;
352 </li>
353 <li>
354 <p>
354 In the event of a child's death, discuss with the parent(s) and reach agreement
regarding the arrangements for the funeral (in the event of sudden, unexplained deaths
arrangements for the funeral may need to be delayed);
354 </p>
355 </li>
356 <li>
357 <p>
357 In the event of a serious injury to the child, arrange with the parent(s) to visit the
child in hospital;
357 </p>
358 </li>
359 <li>
360 <p>
360 Obtain as much information as possible on the circumstances surrounding the cause of
death/serious injury and pass this to their line manager; and
360 </p>
361 </li>
362 <li>
363 <p>
363 Discuss with the line manager any necessary expenditure including reasonable travel
expenses to assist the family in attending the funeral or visiting the child in hospital
where it appears there is financial hardship;
363 </p>
364 </li>
365 <li>
366 <p>
366 Where the child was in a long term foster placement, discuss with the line manager any
possible conflict between the carers and the parents regarding arrangements for the
child's funeral.
366 </p>
367 </li>
368 </ol>
368 </td>
369 </tr>
370 <tr>
371 <td style="width:3%">
371 <p>
371 2.2
371 </p>
371 </td>
372 <td>
372 <p>
372 The line manager will:
372 </p>
373 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
374 <li>
375 <p>
375 Immediately inform the Designated Manager (Death of a Child) by telephone and provide
follow up information in writing as soon as possible afterwards;
375 </p>
376 </li>
377 <li>
378 <p>
378 Advise Legal Services initially by telephone, then confirm details in writing; and
378 </p>
379 </li>
380 <li>
381 <p>
381 Contact the Insurance Section of the Finance Department, initially by telephone and then
in writing.
381 </p>
382 </li>
383 </ol>
384 <p>
384 The
384 <a href="files/sod_decision_making.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
384 Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury to a Child)
384 </a>
384 will:
384 </p>
385 <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha">
386 <li>
387 <p>
387 Inform the Director of Children's Services, who will come to a decision about whether to
notify local authority Members;
387 </p>
388 </li>
389 <li>
390 <p>
390 Ensure that the parents' wishes concerning the funeral are discussed (by the social
worker or the team manager), that any possible conflict with the wishes of the carers
are also ascertained and addressed, and that any appropriate associated costs are met;
390 </p>
391 </li>
392 <li>
393 <p>
393 Arrange, in consultation with the Safeguarding Manager, appropriate meetings under the
Bexley Safeguarding Partnership Procedures, including the need to hold a
393 <a href="http://www.bexleylscb.org.uk/page.php?section=section_4&id=301"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
393 Child Safeguarding Practice Review
393 </a>
393 ;
393 </p>
394 </li>
395 <li>
396 <p>
396 Inform the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel using the
396 <a
href="https://ofstedonline.ofsted.gov.uk/outreach/Ofsted_Serious_Notification.ofml"
target="_blank" rel="noopener">
396 Notification Form for Serious Childcare Incidents
396 </a>
396 . Notifications made through this route will go to the Panel, Ofsted and the DfE. The
local authority must also notify the Secretary of State and Ofsted where a looked after
child has died, whether or not abuse or neglect is known or suspected.
396 </p>
397 </li>
398 </ol>
399 <p>
399 The report to the Panel is the same as the previously outlined online report above.
399 </p>
400 <p>
400 In the event of a Child Safeguarding Practice Review being required, the steps outlined in
400 <a href="#needs_social_worker">
400 Section 3, Needs of Social Workers/Team/Manager/Carers
400 </a>
400 should be followed.
400 </p>
400 </td>
401 </tr>
402 </table>
403 <h3 id="needs_social_worker">
403 3. Needs of Social Workers / Team / Manager / Carers
403 </h3>
404 <p>
404 During the implementation of this procedure consideration must be given to the needs of those
staff and carers involved in the case.
404 </p>
405 <p>
405 The impact of a child death on social workers/team/manager/carer(s) needs to be addressed in terms
of:
405 </p>
406 <ul>
407 <li>
407 The need for counselling for those involved;
407 </li>
408 <li>
408 The manner in which such support is offered;
408 </li>
409 <li>
409 The provision of access to legal and professional advice about the ongoing conduct of the case;
409 </li>
410 <li>
410 The provision of a clear explanation of the process of a
410 <a href="http://www.bexleylscb.org.uk/page.php?section=section_4&id=301" target="_blank"
rel="noopener">
410 Child Safeguarding Practice Review
410 </a>
410 ;
410 </li>
411 <li>
411 Support for staff in the event of Police investigation/interviews;
411 </li>
412 <li>
412 The need to inform and keep informed any relevant Trades Unions;
412 </li>
413 <li>
413 The need for team debriefing whilst observing confidentiality. This must be discussed with the
Service Manager;
413 </li>
414 <li>
414 The need to acknowledge that a child death can impact on the productivity of any team and its
ability to function; and the need to agree strategies to manage workloads.
414 </li>
415 </ul>
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