Report a Child Death

How to report a child death and how the cases are reviewed by our Cumbria Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP).

 

The death of a child is always tragic. Talking and thinking about a child’s death is a sensitive and painful subject which is particularly upsetting for parents, families and carers. 

Any agency or professional should make a notification of a child death if: 

  • a child death has occurred in Cumbria 
  • a death of a child, normally resident in Cumbria, occurred elsewhere 

Notify us of a child's death though our online form

To ensure the child death reporting forms are sent to the appropriate person/agency, please email the name and email of that person to the Cumbria Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) email:  cdop@cumbria.gov.uk 

After you've completed the online form, it will be received by the CDOP Co-ordinator.

Reviewing of child deaths 

The reviewing of child deaths is statutory for local safeguarding partnerships in England.  The purpose of the processes is to try to understand how a child has died and then put in place interventions to protect other children and prevent future deaths wherever possible from learning. 

It is intended that the Child Death Review process will:

  • document and try to understand the cause of death so that parents/guardians and the wider family can come to terms with the death of their child.
  • enable parents/guardians and professionals to take steps to prevent the deaths of any other children where possible.
  • identify patterns of deaths in a community so that preventable or avoidable hazards that may contribute to deaths can be recognised and reduced.
  • contribute to the improved collection of forensic evidence in the very small proportion of deaths where there might be concerns about the cause of death being non-accidental.
  • work together to co-ordinate the review of child deaths and share learning to help safeguard children across Cumbria

Learn more about the review process and the Cumbria joint agency response

Any queries regarding a child death

Professionals who have queries regarding a child death are encouraged to contact:

Sharon Mitchell, Child Death and Case Review Co-ordinator

Telephone: 07795047888
Email: cdop@cumbria.gov.uk or cscp@cumbria.gov.uk 

Useful documents

CSCP Child Death Overview Panel Annual Report 1 April 2023 - 31 March 2024 (PDF, 1,561KB)