Child death and case reviews

When a child dies or is seriously injured and abuse or neglect is known or suspected to be a factor, the statutory partners are required to undertake a Rapid Review.  The Rapid Review aims to:-

  • Gather the facts about the case, as far as they can be readily established at the time
  • Discuss whether there is any immediate action needed to ensure children’s safety and share any learning appropriately
  • Consider the potential for identifying improvements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children
  • Decide what steps they should take next, including whether or not to undertake a child safeguarding practice review 

The purpose of reviews is to identify where system and practice improvements can be made to further strengthen safeguarding arrangements.  Understanding whether there are systemic issues, and whether and how policy and practice need to change, is critical to the system being dynamic and self-improving.  Reviews should seek to prevent or reduce the risk of recurrence of similar incidents. They are not conducted to hold individuals, organisations or agencies to account, as there are other processes for that purpose.

Any agency or individual can make notify the statutory partners if they believe the threshold for a Rapid Review has been met.  The Case Review Practice Guidance contained on this page details the process.   

We are also encouraging agencies and individuals (practitioners, children or their families) to let us know where multi-agency practice has worked well and led to children being safer.  The Case Review Practice Guidance also details the notification process for a ‘Learn from Success’ review.

Although the statutory partners are not responsible for Child Death Overview Panel, we have included local guidance in this section.

If you are unsure whether a notification for a review should be made you can contact the partnership on:

Shona Green
Safeguarding Board Officer
Bolton Safeguarding Children Partnership

Room 1.36
Castle Hill Centre
Castleton Street
Bolton
BL2 2JW

Telephone 01204 337964
Email boltonsafeguardingchildren@bolton.gov.uk
 

Resources

Title Extension File size Download
Strengthening Practice Through Experience CSPR Report June 2022 PDF 467kB Download Strengthening Practice Through Experience CSPR Report June 2022
Strengthening Practice Through Experience CSPR - Learning Brief Published June 2022 PDF 207kB Download Strengthening Practice Through Experience CSPR - Learning Brief Published June 2022
Family G Serious Case Review June 2022 PDF 561kB Download Family G Serious Case Review June 2022
Baby C Learning Brief August 2019 PDF 184kB Download Baby C Learning Brief August 2019
Bolton, Salford & Wigan Child Death Arrangements PDF 465kB Download Bolton, Salford & Wigan Child Death Arrangements
Case Review Practice Guidance PDF 230kB Download Case Review Practice Guidance
Greater Manchester procedure for the management of sudden unexpected death in childhood PDF 637kB Download Greater Manchester procedure for the management of sudden unexpected death in childhood
Learning brief – analysing the impact of missing appointments PDF 209kB Download Learning brief – analysing the impact of missing appointments
Learning brief – effective multi-agency meetings PDF 72kB Download Learning brief – effective multi-agency meetings
Learning brief – experiences of a looked after child PDF 211kB Download Learning brief – experiences of a looked after child
Learning brief – recognising and responding to resistance PDF 208kB Download Learning brief – recognising and responding to resistance
Learning From Safeguarding Rapid Reviews briefing - Children With Complex Needs January 2023 PDF 164kB Download Learning From Safeguarding Rapid Reviews briefing - Children With Complex NeedsJanuary 2023
Practice Review Notification Form DOCX 32kB Download Practice Review Notification Form
Review Decision Making Flow Chart PDF 77kB Download Review Decision Making Flow Chart
Review Methodologies PDF 95kB Download Review Methodologies
What Happens When a Child Dies PDF 298kB Download What Happens When a Child Dies