National child mortality database​

Child death review (CDR) processes are mandatory for Child Death Review Partners (CDR Partners) in England. The CDR process has been in place in England since 1 April 2008 and was previously the responsibility of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs).

CDR Partners are responsible for reviewing the deaths of all children up to the age of 18. This function is carried out through local Child Death Overview Panels (CDOPs). The overall purpose is to understand why children die and to put in place interventions to protect other children and reduce the risk of future deaths. ​

The National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), launched on 1 April 2019, collates data collected by CDOPs in England from reviews of all children who die at any time after birth and before their 18th birthday. There is a statutory requirement for CDOPs to collect this data, and to provide it to NCMD, outlined in the statutory and operational guidance, and it is available from the NCMD website.

NCMD - The National Child Mortality Database (external website) ​

East Riding child death review arrangements

Accountability​

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council Public Health and the Humber North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board are the local child death review partners.​

Child death review partners must make arrangements for the review of each death of a child normally resident in the East Riding of Yorkshire area. They must also arrange for the collection and analysis of information about deaths reviewed under the new guidance.

Working together to safeguard children outlines the statutory child death review process in chapter 6:

Working together to safeguard children 2026: statutory guidance (external PDF)

Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report

Each year the Child Death Overview Panel publishes an annual report which outlines local child death arrangements and identified learning.

Reporting

Responsibilities for professionals when a child dies

There are many reasons why you might be professionally involved with children or their families. It could be because they:

• live in social housing
• are accessing your service (for example, social services or Early Help)
• come to your place of work, which might be related to:
  • education
  • childcare
  • support services.

If you have been professionally involved with a child that dies your information will be important to the child death overview panel (CDOP). Whatever your link to a child, or their family, please get in touch with the child death overview panel as soon as you learn of the child's death.

Notifying the panel of a child death​

Every child death, age 0 – 18, should be reported to the child death overview panel using the electronic notification form. Usually, a medical professional will report this but sometimes it is the police and/or other agency that has been involved. This should be completed within 24 hours of the death.

Access the electronic reporting form here (external website)

You can also contact us if you have a query about a child death:

Criteria for reviewing a child death​

A child death review should be carried out for all children under 18 years of age regardless of the cause of death. This includes the death of any live-born baby where a death certificate has been issued. If the birth has not been attended by a healthcare professional, Child Death Review Partners may carry out initial enquiries to determine whether the baby was born alive. If these enquiries determine that the baby was born alive, the death must be reviewed.

Joint Agency Response (JAR)​

This is the process of communication, collaborative action and information sharing following the unexpected death of a child. The purpose of a Joint Agency Response meeting is to ensure that the appropriate agencies engage and work together to:​

• Respond quickly ​
• Make immediate enquiries​
• Collate information in a standard, nationally agreed manner​
• Work together appropriately post death​

The Joint Agency Response begins at the point of death and ends with the completed report to the Child Death Overview Panel.​

Training information can be accessed below:
Joint Agency Response SUDIC Training - UCLPartners

Guide to coroner services ​

This guide explains the process by which someone’s death has been reported to the coroner. The coroner is involved in the death because the coroner needs to make enquiries to find out what happened and how the person died. For most people, the inquest process is new. Preparing for an inquest can be difficult, and you may find it hard to find your way through the legal processes on top of the distress caused by the death. ​

Guide to coroner services - GOV.UK (external PDF)

Contact

Child Death Overview Panel​

​ General enquiries​

Bereavement support resources

The death of a child is a devastating loss that profoundly affects bereaved parents as well as siblings, grandparents, extended family, friends and professionals who were involved in caring for the child in any capacity.​

The leaflets below provide information and links to support when a baby or child dies:

Online resources

Child death abroad

When a child dies abroad guidance and support can be found at:

Children and bereavement - NHS

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Guidance

The Compassionate Friend Charity

The Lullaby Trust

Supporting bereaved children and young people

Child Bereavement UK

Child Bereavement UK - how can I support a bereaved child? video (external website)

Papyrus

Papyrus - prevention of young suicide (external website)

Call the Papyrus Hopeline247 on 0800 068 4141

Email Papyrus at pat@papyrus-uk.org

Text HOPE to 88247

Dove House Hospice

Dove House Hospice - children's bereavement service (external website)

Cruse Bereavement Support

Cruse Bereavement Support (external website)

Call the Cruse Bereavement Support helpline on 0808 808 1677

The helpline is available at the following times:
Monday 9.30am – 5pm
Tuesday 1pm – 8pm
Wednesday 9.30am – 5pm
Thursday 9.30am – 5pm
Friday 9.30am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – closed

Winston's Wish

Winston's Wish - (external website)

Fitmums and Friends

Fitmums and Friends - The Forest Project Animation on YouTube (external website)

East Riding directory of services and community groups

Bereavement support - directory of services and community groups

Support for organisations

The Samaritans

The Samaritans’ Step by Step service supports organisations working with young people so that they can respond effectively following the suspected or attempted suicide of someone from within their community:
Samaritans - Step by Step (external website)

UK Trauma Council

The UK Trauma Council offer free, evidence-based resources to support schools, colleges and practitioners working with traumatically bereaved children and young people:
UK Trauma Council - traumatic bereavement (external website)

Mental health

Young Healthy Minds

Young Healthy Minds on the East Riding Health and Wellbeing website (external website)

Healthy Minds East Riding on the East Riding Health and Wellbeing website (external website)

Mind

Mind Hull and East Yorkshire (external website)

Call Mind on 01482 240133

Email Mind at info@heymind.org.uk

Text Mind on 07520633447

Child Death Helpline ​

For anyone affected by the death of a child of any age from any cause.

Visit the Child Death Helpline website

Call the Child Death Helpline on 0800 282 986 or 0808 800 6019​