Information for Workers

Child Deaths

Web Links

Sudden unexpected death in infancy: the report of a working group convened by The Royal College of Pathologists and The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

National Statistics: Child Deaths - Contains detailed analyses of all stillbirths, infant and perinatal deaths and data on deaths of children aged under-16

Child death review pilot project page on Every Child Matters website.This now includes:

• Training materials to support child death review processes
• Why Jason Died - a DVD familiarisation resource, with accompanying booklet

There are also a number of example documents based on the Study of 'early Starter' child death overview panels:

• Audit Tool 1: To undertake an intial scoping exercise to define the setting, opportunities and constraints and to inform the development of panels.
• Audit Tool 2: To undertake a planning exercise to clarify the purpose of a panel, scope of deaths to be reviewed, potential membership, chairing and administrative arrangements and some basic operational procedures.
• A Terms of Reference template for panels developed from the experiences of 'early starter' sites and from teams in the United States.
• Details of review team members.
• A Confidentiality Statement template.
• An example of an Operational Procedures protocol.
• An attendance log.
• Job descriptions for a Child Death Overview Panel manager & administrator.

CEMACH Child Health Enquiry - Child Death Review: First Interim Report, September 2006 (PDF)

You should also refer to Chapter 7, Child death review process, in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2006)

Articles & Research

'Ending it all' -Guardian feature on the psychology behind men who kill their children before committing suicide, and what prevention measures can be taken. 24 September 2008

Bereavement Resources

Child Bereavement Charity:
Support & information line: 01494 446648

Childhood Bereavement Network:
020 7843 6309

Cruse Bereavement Care and Youth Involvement Project:
Day by day helpline: 0844 477 9400
Young people's support line: 0808 808 1677

Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID):
0870 787 0885
Help-line: 020 7233 2090

SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society)
020 7436 5881

Other relevant pages on this website

• Coroners (Resources)
• Serious Case Reviews (Resources)
• Child Deaths
• Serious Case Reviews