Report a Child Death

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, which covers both local authorities (Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness)
  • 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 Cumbria Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) cdop@cumbria.gov.uk informing them of the person and their email address.

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

Reviewing of child deaths

Reviewing child deaths is a statutory requirement 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. 

It is intended that the Child Death Review process will:

  • document and try to understand the cause of death, so that parents/carers and the wider family can come to terms with the death of their child
  • enable parents/carers 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 Cumberland Joint Agency response. 

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

The following documents are from the former Cumbria Safeguarding Children Partnership