National guidance when a child or young person dies
Document Type
Process guidance
Summary
We developed guidance for reviewing the deaths of children and young people in Scotland. We did this with the support of our stakeholders. This guidance sets out the process NHS boards and local authorities should follow when responding to, and reviewing, the death of a child or young person.
The guidance sets out the review process and infrastructure required to support local systems:
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from the notification of a death to reporting the death, including governance
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key elements that make a quality review
It takes account of the need to consider how to keep family and carers at the centre of the process. It ensures they are provided with opportunities to be involved in, and informed about, all aspects of the review process.
It provides key steps to ensure consistency when reviewing the circumstances surrounding the death of a child or young person. It can identify key learning that will contribute to ways to prevent or reduce future, preventable deaths.
This guidance is final at present. We see it as a working document that will continuously evolve.