Child Death

The HIPS Local Authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups are the Child Death Review Partners and the Child Death Overview Panel has representation from:

• Designed Doctor for Child Deaths/Consultant Paediatrician
• Public Health
• Police
• Consultant Neonatologist
• Consultant Obstetrician
• Designated Nurse for Safeguarding
• Midwifery
• Children’s Social Care
• Children’s Education
• Lay Member

The Panel members are all senior professionals who bring significant expertise from a wide range of perspectives and settings for objective, comprehensive and meaningful reviews.

In addition to the core membership, relevant experts from health and other agencies are invited as necessary to inform discussions, for example, the Regional Medical Examiner, Bereavement Services, Health Visiting, Mental Health Services, School Nursing and Coroner’s Office.

Consideration of a Joint Agency Response (JAR) should occur each time a child dies and a joint decision should be taken as to whether it is required. The new guidance no longer distinguishes deaths in terms of unexpected or expected. A Joint Agency Response should be triggered if a child’s death:

• is or could be due to external causes;
• is sudden and there is no immediately apparent cause (including sudden unexpected death in infancy/childhood);
• occurs in custody, or where the child was detained under the Mental Health Act;
• where the initial circumstances raise any suspicions that the death may not have been natural; or
• in the case of a stillbirth where no healthcare professional was in attendance.  

The Suicide Prevention and Postvention Protocol (hipsprocedures.org.uk)   helps schools and colleges on the Isle of Wight to identify and support students who may be suicidal or, support students following the death by (suspected) suicide. It also supports schools and colleges to prepare and respond to, a (suspected) suicide.