CDR Process

The Child Death Overview Panel is responsible for reviewing the deaths of any children normally resident in Southend, Essex and Thurrock local authority areas, whether from natural, unnatural, known or unknown causes, at home, in hospital or in the community.

The purpose of the review is to:

• Reduce the number of childhood deaths
• Identify matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children
• Identify wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or from a pattern of deaths
• Undertake a co-ordinated agency response to all unexpected deaths of children

SUDI Thinking Tool

One of the outcomes of a recent thematic review of baby deaths classified as sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) across Southend, Essex and Thurrock, was to develop a SUDI thinking tool.   The tool has now been finalised and is available for use by practitioners across all agencies.

The intention of the SUDI thinking tool is to prompt curious conversations by all professionals in contact with families with young infants, to facilitate a non-judgemental discussion about their choice of sleeping environment, and to tailor advice and support to their individual circumstances.

The guidance is based on the Lullaby Trust recommendations for best practice and is intended to support current practice and risk assessment.

A research project with Anglia Ruskin University is in progress to seek the voice of parents, to determine what influences their decision making regarding their choice of sleeping environment for their baby. The outcomes will be shared in due course.

There is further information about Safer Sleep here.

Notification of a child death

Any agency becoming aware of:

• a child death occurring in Essex 
• a death of a normally resident Essex child occurring elsewhere

should make a notification to the SET Child Death Review Manager via their nominated Child Death Review lead.

To notify us of the death of a child resident in Essex, Southend or Thurrock area please follow the link below to complete your Notification Form within 24hrs.

Link to complete Notification Form 

If you have any problems with submitting a notification via the above link please contact us at tpa-tr.SET-CDR-RRT@nhs.net or by telephone on 01279 357996.

Please remember that you must also inform the Child Health Information Service using the following email addresses:

West Essex: hct.eoechis.blmk-hwe@nhs.net 

North-east, Mid & South Essex: hct.eoechis.mse-snee@nhs.net 

Further information on Child Death Reviews can be found here.

Child Death Review Team (Health)