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Contents

1. Death of a Looked After Child  
2. Serious Injury to a Looked After Child  

1. Death of a Looked After Child

Where information comes to notice of the death of a Looked After Child, the following tasks are required.

The child’s social worker will:

1. Immediately inform his or her line manager
2. Notify the parent(s) immediately and in person, if possible;
3. Discuss with the parent(s) and reach agreement regarding the arrangements for the funeral (in the event of sudden, unexplained deaths arrangements for the funeral may need to be delayed);
4. Obtain as much information as possible on the circumstances surrounding the cause of death and pass this to their line manager; and
5. Discuss with the manager any necessary expenditure including reasonable travel expenses to assist the family in attending the funeral where it appears there is financial hardship.

The social worker’s line manager will:

1. Immediately inform the service manager and the Designated Manager (Death/Serious Injury of a Looked After Child) by telephone and provide follow up information in writing as soon as possible afterwards;
2. Advise Legal Services initially by telephone, then confirm details in writing; and
3. Contact the Insurance Section of the Finance Department, initially by telephone and then in writing.

The Designated Manager (Death/Serious Injury to a Looked After Child) will:

1. Inform the Director of Children's Social Care Services
2. Consider the appropriate manager to conduct a Management Review
3. Consider whether a Serious Case Review is required under the Local SCB Child Protection Procedures, and
4. Inform the Department for Education and Skills and the Commission for Social Care Inspection

For guidance in relation to Management Reviews, see Incidents Guidance.

The report to the Department of Children Families and Schools and OFSTED will include the following information in the order shown:

• Local Authority
• Child’s Name
• Date of Birth
• Date of Death
• Child’s Legal Status
• Type of Placement (if residential, the name and type of Children’s Home should be included
• Address of Placement
• Cause of Death as on Death Certificate
• Dates if any when child was on the Child Protection Register; or is currently subject to a Child Protection Plan
• The date and findings of the Inquest and any criminal proceedings initiated. It may be necessary to notify these details at a later date
• Policy and practice issues raised and intended local authority action (to follow later if necessary).

Death of a Child in Foster care

• Foster carers must take the following action:
• Take immediate action and contact emergency services.
• Take first aid action.
• Ensure the other children are safe and reassure them.
• If necessary, arrange for someone else to help to look after them. 
• If you are sure the child is dead do not move the body or disrupt the area and contact the child’s G.P.
• Telephone the child’s social worker.  If they are not available say “I am X’s foster carer.  The child has died”.  Tell the person taking the call you must speak to someone.
• At evenings, weekends or bank holidays, phone EMERGENCY DUTY TEAM 01274 530434
• Give the child’s name, date of birth, and name of social worker/Manager.
• Are there any suspicious circumstances?
• Should the police be informed?
• Discuss this with the social worker/manager.

If Child dies away from the foster home

An Ambulance is called to collect the body.  The police may be involved, e.g., for a Road Traffic Accident.

As soon as possible contact the Child’s Social Worker/Manager/EMERGENCY DUTY TEAM who will give you clear advice about any actions you need to take.

Paperwork

The GP or hospital doctor will write out a medical certificate, showing the cause of death.  This is in a sealed envelope addressed to the Registrar.

• Another notice is also given which tells you how to get the death registered
• The G.P. will make arrangements for the body to be collected.

The child’s parents will be informed by the social worker or Manager who knows them.  You may want to be involved in telling the parents, and you should discuss this with the social worker or Manager.

Information about the situation is very sensitive and care must be taken not to talk about the situation the parents have been informed.

2. Serious Injury to a Looked After Child

Where information comes to notice of serious injury to a Looked After Child, the following tasks are required.

The child’s social worker will:

1. Immediately inform his or her line manager
2. Notify the parent(s) immediately and in person, if possible;
3. Arrange with the parent(s) to visit the child in hospital;
4. Obtain as much information as possible on the circumstances surrounding the injury and pass this to their line manager; and
5. Discuss with the manager any necessary expenditure including reasonable travel expenses to assist the family in visiting the child where it appears there is financial hardship.

The social worker’s line manager will:

1. Immediately inform the Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury of a Looked After Child) by telephone and provide follow up information in writing as soon as possible afterwards;
2. Advise Legal Services initially by telephone, then confirm details in writing;
3. Contact the Insurance Section of the Finance Department, initially by telephone and then in writing; and
4. Where the child was placed in foster care or residential care, advise the Commission for Social Care Inspection, initially by telephone followed with written information.

The Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury of a Looked After Child) will:

1. Inform the Director of Children's Social Care Services;
2. Consider the appropriate manager to conduct a Management Review;
3. Consider whether a Serious Case Review is required under the Local SCB Child Protection Procedures.
4. Consider whether it is appropriate to inform the Commission for Social Care Inspection, if not already done.

For Guidance in relation to Management Reviews, see Incidents Guidance.

End