1.5.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need) |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This procedure outlines the steps to be taken in the event of the death of or serious injury to a child living in the community (where there are suspicions of abuse or neglect) and the death of/serious injury to any Looked After Child (whether or not the abuse or neglect is known or suspected).
These steps are in addition to any Rapid Review or Child Safeguarding Practice Review which may be commissioned and the work of the Child Death Overview Panel.
This procedure uses the expression Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury to a Child). This Designated Manager must also be notified in circumstances where there is a serious injury to a child. In Cumbria, the Designated Manager is the Assistant Director – Children & Young People.AMENDMENT
This chapter was updated locally in August 2020 therefore should be read in its entirety.
Contents
- Death of or Serious Injury to a Child in the Community where there are Suspicions of Abuse or Neglect
- Death of or Serious Injury to a Looked After Child in Care
- Needs of Social Workers / Team / Manager / Carers
- Role of Fostering Support Worker… Focus on Carers
- Role of Fostering Team Manager
- Managing any Inquest
- Managing Publicity
1. Death of or Serious Injury of a Child in the Community where there are Suspicions of Abuse or Neglect
Local authorities in England must notify the national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel (the Panel) within 5 working days of becoming aware of a serious incident.
Serious incidents which should be reported are those where the local authority knows or suspects that a child has been abused or neglected and:
- The child dies (including suspected suicide) or is seriously harmed in the local authority’s area;
- While normally resident in the local authority’s area, the child dies or is seriously harmed outside England.
The process for reporting a serious incident to the Panel via the Child Safeguarding Incident Notification System is set out in the following: Report A Serious Child Safeguarding Incident (GOV.UK). The Panel will share all notifications with Ofsted and the DfE.
The following tasks are also required:
1.1 | The child's Social Worker or, if not previously known to Children's Social Care, the duty worker receiving the information will:
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1.2 | In this circumstance the Need to Know Policy will be used. The line manager will immediately inform the Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury to a Child) (see Documents Library, Appendices) by telephone and provide follow up information in writing as soon as possible afterwards. |
1.3 | The Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury to a Child) will:
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1.4 | Local authorities should use the Child Safeguarding Incident Notification System to notify the Panel. 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 Designated 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:
A copy of the completed form should be saved and printed out for the records. In urgent situations, the Assistant Director or Executive Director should telephone Ofsted on 0300 123 1231 and then complete the form. E-mail mailbox.nationalreviewpanel@education.gov.uk if you have any queries. |
1.5 | Where a Child Safeguarding Practice Review is to be held, this must be conducted in accordance with Chapter 4 in Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Cumbria Local Safeguarding Children Partnership Procedures Manual. |
2. Death of or Serious Injury to a Looked After Child in Care
Where information comes to notice of the death of or serious injury to a child in care, the following tasks are required:
2.1 | The child's Social Worker will:
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2.2 | The line manager will:
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2.3 | The Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury to a Child) (see Documents Library, Appendices) will:
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2.4 | The report to the Panel is the same as the previously outlined online report above. In the event of a Child Safeguarding Practice Review being required, the steps outlined in Section 3, Needs of Social Workers / Team / Manager / Carers should be followed. |
3. Needs of Social Workers / Team / Managers / Carers
During the implementation of this procedure consideration must be given to the needs of those staff and carers involved in the case.
The impact of a child death on Social Worker/team/manager/carer needs to be addressed in terms of:
- The need for counselling for those involved;
- The manner in which such support is offered;
- The provision of access to legal and professional advice about the ongoing conduct of the case;
- The provision of a clear explanation of the process of a Child Safeguarding Practice Review;
- Support for staff in the event of Police investigation/interviews;
- The need to inform and keep informed any relevant Trades Unions;
- The need for team debriefing whilst observing confidentiality. This must be discussed with the Service Manager;
- The need to acknowledge that a child death can impact on the productivity of any team and its ability to function; and the need to agree strategies to manage workloads.
4. Role of Fostering Support Worker… Focus on Carers
- Maintain regular telephone or face-to-face contact (daily initial stages) with childcare Social Worker as determined by Childcare/Fostering planning meetings to share information and coordinate direct supportive contacts with carers and relevant;
- Maintain frequent contact with carers (daily on initial basis);
- Meet with carers and childcare social worker on frequent regular basis (at least in the initial stages);
- Ensure on line resources or other known helpful bereavement guides for emotional support of foster carers is made available in the early and later stage;
- Where there is an identified need for independent emotional support specific to the role of carer as opposed to generic NHS counselling then request access to 'emotional wellbeing specialist or independent agencies like 'fostertalk' to provide talking support independent of the supervising social work role.
5. Role of Fostering Team Manager
- Make contact with carers in the initial stages, offer to visit, be available, keep in touch with carers so the carers understand there is an offer from the line manager in addition to that of the fostering support social worker;
- Ensure continuity of fostering support to carers;
- Keep in touch with the social work Team Manager on a monthly basis in order to check and adjust coordinated support arrangements as needed;
- Ensure timely 'independent fostering emotional support' is authorised and made available in a timely way;
- Attend arranged child care/fostering joint meetings as needed.
6. Managing any Inquest
The Social Worker and/or the Fostering Officer as soon as they are aware of the child's death should notify Corporate Legal Services, Senior Legal Officer or Group Solicitor and Manager by email of the child's death. They will be the point of contact with the coroner and will be the point of contact with regard to any inquest.
Should any member of the Children and Families department have any queries or be contacted by the Coroner, they should immediately let legal know and they will deal with any response. They will also assist with what is required for the inquest or support staff that may be required to attend an inquest.
7. Managing Publicity
The Team Managers childcare and fostering should consider any possible publicity issues that may affect the children, carers, or reputation of the department and liaise with the designated senior manager and a designated member of the County Council Communications Team.
The designated senior manager will determine what matters can be placed in the public domain, speak with the press and resolve any disputes arising from any conflicts of interests.
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