Child Protection Guidance 2021

Part 4: Specific support needs and concerns 207 National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021 Version 1.0 September 2021 4.453 A Child Death SIO may consider engaging officers for specialist tasks, such as: interviewing child witnesses; obtaining relevant and necessary background information from police, local authority, health, parent/carers and anyone else who may have relevant information. In cases where the child or infant and their family were either not resident in or had recently moved to the area where the death occurred, the Child Death SIO will ensure that information is sought from local policing divisions/police forces and local authorities in any area where the child or infant is known to have previously resided. National Child Death Review Process 4.454 In all situations a range of professionals are involved when a SUDI occurs. Not all professions will be involved in every SUDI. The interacting roles of professionals are outlined within Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Toolkit (https://www.sudiscotland. org.uk/professional- guidance/) . In all situations, the sensitivity, skill and co‑ordination of an inter-agency approach will significantly influence family experience within effective investigations. Investigations may form a helpful step within support for bereaved parents and relatives of the child or infant. 4.455 Once the Procurator Fiscal is satisfied that there is no criminality involved, permission is given for a SUDI review to take place. This is organised by health boards and will involve relevant inter-agency professionals and the family The purpose of this review is to discuss all aspects of the death, including possible causes or contributing factors to see what lessons can be learned and to plan support for the family, particularly in identifying support needs for any future pregnancies. 4.456 A National Hub for Reviewing and Learning from the Deaths of Children and Young People has been set up by Scottish Government. It will be hosted by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate. Reviews will be conducted on the deaths of all live-born children up to the date of their 18th birthday, or 26th birthday for care leavers who are in receipt of aftercare or continuing care at the time of their death. The aim is to ensure that the death of every child in Scotland is subject to a quality review and that there is a consistent approach and coordinated process to learning from all local review activity. Data generated will inform national policy, education and learning and contribute to the prevention of child deaths in the future. 4.457 When a Health Board or local authority is notified about the death of a child or young person there should be clear governance arrangements and processes in place to determine the appropriate review mechanism. Engagement must take place early in the process with any other organisations involved in the child or young person’s care to reach a decision about the most suitable review process. All organisations and agencies involved should work together to undertake one single review wherever this is possible and appropriate. The rationale for deciding which review process should be carried out should be clear, take into consideration any statutory, legal, or national requirements, and be reached in a timely manner. 4.458 The National Hub Guidance sets out the implementation processes for health boards and local authority areas when responding to, and reviewing, the death of a child or young person. Whilst organisations can establish their own structure and process for reviewing the deaths of children and young people, they should ensure the local processes align to this.