Joint Child Death Overview Panel for the boroughs of Hounslow, Kingston and Richmond Newsletter – December 2014
Welcome
Thank you for taking the time to read about the work of the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) in our
inaugural newsletter. We plan to publish this newsletter twice-yearly featuring information about both our
work, and those of other panels and related initiatives to share and promote learning arising from the review
of deaths of children. We hope that this will assist you in your work promoting the safety and wellbeing of
children, alongside their parents and carers.
What is the Joint Child Death Overview Panel?
Established in April 2008, the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) is a joint subgroup of Hounslow,
Kingston and Richmond’s Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB). The government requires each
LSCB to establish a CDOP to carry out a review of all child deaths in their area, in accordance with The
Local Safeguarding Children Boards Regulations 2006 and WT2013. The CDOP must review all deaths of
under 18 year olds across the three boroughs
(a) Collecting and analysing information about each death with a view to identifying-
. any case giving rise to the need for a serious case review;
. any matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children in the area of the authority; and
. any wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or from a pattern of deaths in
that area; and
(b) Putting in place procedures for ensuring that there is a coordinated response by the authority , their Board partners and other relevant persons to an unexpected death.
Through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary review of child deaths, the (CDOP) aims to better
understand how and why children in the London Borough of Hounslow, Royal Borough of Kingston upon
Thames and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames die and use the findings to take action to
prevent other deaths and improve the health and safety of children in the three Boroughs.
How do I get further information?
Please contact the CDOP Coordinator, Sarah Bennett, on 020 8831 6257, for any further information about
the panel and its work. Professionals are welcome to attend panel meetings as observers so please do get
in touch if this would be of interest to you.
To read more about the child death review process please refer to the government guidance in Working Together 2013 Chapter 5 via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-safeguard-children
National learning in focus: Why Children Die
In May 2014 the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the National Children’s Bureau published a report titled Why Children Die examining the higher mortality rates in the UK when compared to European neighbours finding that inequality is a key factor and that many child deaths could be prevented through a combination of societal changes, political engagement and improved training for children’s healthcare o Cached professionals. You can access the report via the link below:
http://www.rcpch.ac.uk/news/rcpch -and-ncb-launches-report-why-children-die
Safe Sleeping
In our next issue we will focus on local learning in relation to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome but in the meantime professionals can access a range of resources and support via the link below: http://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/
Local learning in focus: Water Safety
Since the child death review process began in April 2008 there have been several deaths of children resident in the local area and of varying ages, as a consequence of drowning. Nationally, drowning has been identified as a leading cause of accidental death, with 62 deaths of children under 5 between 2008- 2012 resulting from drowning. Babies and toddlers can drown quickly and silently in as little as 5cm of water. Older children and
young people are also at risk of drowning.
The following key messages have been highlighted from local case reviews by which future deaths can be prevented :
Supervision – Parents and carers must ensure children of any age are adequately supervised by an adult in or near water including for example the bath, garden ponds and swimming places.
Bath Aids – Bath seats are intended as an aid to bath-time and must not be relied upon as a
substitute to adult supervision. It is not safe to leave a baby unattended by an adult in a bath
seat at any time.
Reduce Risks – Parents and carers should consider reducing the risks presented by all sources of water, for example ensuring ponds are covered/fenced off as well as coverage of drains and water storage devices, ensuring baths, paddling pools and buckets are emptied immediately after use, and securing access to garden areas and similar. It is important that these risks are taken account of not only at their own home, but when visiting and on holiday.
Swimming – Children and young people should be encouraged to learn to swim and to understand the risks posed by water including making appropriate assessments of the swimming location and their own swimming ability. Swimming should be undertaken in lifeguarded facilities, for example pools, beaches. The rules of the swimming area should be adhered to.
Safety Promotion – Professionals should promote the above messages when speaking to families about accident prevention as well as using the resources outlined below to help reduce the risk of accidental drowning.
The following organisations’ websites provide further resources for families and professionals to help keep safe in and around water -
Child Accident Prevention Trust: http://www.capt.org.uk/safety-advice/keeping-your-child-safe-drowning http://www.makingthelink.net/tools/five-under-fives-preventing-serious-accidents-children-under- five/drowning
Drowning Prevention Week: http://drowningpreventionweek.org.uk/
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents: http://www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/adviceandinformation/watersafety/
In November the World Health Organisation has recently published Global report on drowning: preventing a leading killer. This report provides a range of evidence and recommendations for national and local government to inform prevention strategies. You can access the report via the link below http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/publications/drowning_global_report/en/