1.5.1 Death or Serious Injury to a Child (Looked After and Child In Need) |
SCOPE OF THIS CHAPTER
This chapter outlines the steps to be taken in the event of the suspicious death of/serious injury to a child living in the community or the death of/serious injury to any child in care (Looked After).
These steps are in addition to the carrying out of the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures in relation to the need to hold a Serious Case Review and the work of the Child Death Overview Panel.
This chapter uses the expression Designated Manager (Death of a Child). This person should also be notified in circumstances where there is a serious injury to a child.
Contents
- Death of or Serious Injury to a Child in the Community
- Death of or Serious Injury to a Child in Care
- Needs of Social Worker / Team / Manager / Carer
1. Death of or Serious Injury of a Child in the Community
Where information comes to notice of the suspicious death or serious injury to a child living in the community, the following tasks are required.
1.1 | The child's social worker or, if unallocated, the duty worker receiving the information will:
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1.2 | The line manager will immediately inform the Designated Manager (Death of a Child) by telephone and provide follow up information in writing as soon as possible afterwards. |
1.3 | The Designated Manager (Death of a Child) will:
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1.4 | The report to the Secretary of State will include the following information and must be approved by the Designated Manager (Death of a Child) before it is sent:
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1.5 | Where a Serious Case Review is to be held, the Designated Manager (Death of a Child) will determine the most appropriate person to carry out the Internal Management Review (IMR) of the case within Children's Services. This review must be written in accordance with the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures. This will include the preparation of a detailed Chronology of what is contained in the records, the carrying out of interviews with members of staff where necessary, a critical analysis of the social work practice and an action plan based on the report findings and recommendations. Prior to presenting the IMR to the Serious Case Review Panel, the author should consult with the Head of Children's Services, who must endorse the report. |
1.6 | The recommendations and action plan of the Internal Management Review report should be reported to the Senior Management Team of Children's Services as well as to the Local Safeguarding Children Board, together with a report of any follow-up action. The recommendations and action plan should also be fed back to all relevant staff by the Designated Manager (Death of a Child) or his/her nominee. |
1.7 | If a decision is made not to hold a Serious Case Review by the Chair of the Local Safeguarding Children Board, this will be notified to the Department for Education in accordance with the Greater Manchester Safeguarding Children Procedures. However, the Designated Manager (Death of a Child), may still decide that there are issues arising from the case which justify an internal management review as described in paragraph 1.5 and paragraph 1.6. |
2. Death of or Serious Injury to a 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 of a Child) will:
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2.4 | The report to the Department for Education will include the following information in the order shown:
In the event of a Serious Case Review and/or internal management review being required, the steps outlined in Section 3, Needs of Social Worker/Team/Manager/Carer should be followed. |
3. Needs of Social Worker / Team / Managers / Carer
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 Serious Case 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.
End