Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After, Child in Care or Care Leaver Up to and Including the Age of 24)

The child's social worker or, if not previously known to Children's Social Care, the duty worker receiving the information will:

1. Immediately inform their line manager;
2. Obtain as much information as possible on the circumstances surrounding the cause of death/serious injury and pass this to the line manager.

The Service Manager will:

1. the Director of Children's Services who will notify local authority members as necessary;
2. Ascertain as full details as possible from the Police and any other source;
3. Request that administrative staff check Children's Services records on the child and family and print out and secure any information held;
4. Collect any files held on the child and family and secure them in the correct office location;
5. Arrange a process for informing relevant agencies about the death/serious injury and remind them to secure their files;
6. Arrange to consider the circumstances of the death/serious injury, in accordance with the West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures, including a referral to the Child Death Overview Panel and whether a Rapid Review / Child Safeguarding Practice Review is required.

Local authorities should use the Child Safeguarding Incident Notification System. 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 Service 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:

• Your sign in;
• Your phone number and email address;
• Name of each child you are notifying;
• Details of the incident.

The child's social worker will:

1. Immediately inform their line manager;
2. Notify the parent(s) immediately and in person, if possible;
3. 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);
4. In the event of a serious injury to the child, arrange with the parent(s) to visit the child in hospital;
5. Arrange to inform agencies about the death/serious injury and remind them to secure their files where a review is likely to be required;
6. 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;
7. Additionally, whenever a Looked After Child dies, the local authority must inform the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 days using the Child Safeguarding Incident Notification System. The Panel will share all notifications with 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.

The line manager will:

1. Immediately inform the Service Manager by telephone and provide follow up information in writing as soon as possible afterwards;
2. Advise Legal Services initially by telephone, then confirm details in writing; and
3. Contact the Insurance Section of the Finance Department, initially by telephone and then in writing.

The Service Manager will:

1. Inform the Director of Children's Services, who will come to a decision about whether to notify the local authority Members;
2. 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;
3. Consult the Director of Children's Services about the need for an internal management review of the case and if so, the appropriate person to conduct the review;
4. Where a review is to be conducted, collect any files held on the child and family and secure them at their office;
5. Arrange  to inform other  agencies about the death/serious injury and remind them to secure their files where a review is likely to be required;
6. Arrange, in consultation with the Safeguarding Manager, appropriate meetings under the West Yorkshire Consortium Safeguarding and Child Procedures, including the need to hold a Rapid Review / Child Safeguarding Practice Review;
7. Additionally, whenever a Child in Care dies, the local authority must inform the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel within 5 days using the Notification Form for Serious Childcare Incidents. The Panel will share all notifications with Ofsted and the DfE. The local authority must also notify the Secretary of State where a Child in Care has died, whether or not abuse or neglect is known or suspected.

The report to the Panel is submitted online and the contents entered must be reviewed by the Service Manager before it is submitted. The form requires a range of information and is set out clearly in sections. A copy of the completed form should be saved and printed out for the records. In urgent situations, the Deputy Director or Director of Children's Services should telephone Ofsted on 0300 123 1231 and then complete the form.

In the event of a Child Safeguarding Practice Review and/or internal management review being required, the steps outlined in Section 4, Needs of Social Workers / Team / Manager / Carers should be followed.