Child Death Overview Panel

What is CDOP?

For the Blackpool, Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen region, the deaths of all children under the age of 18 are reviewed by the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) which is administered through the Lancashire Children’s Safeguarding Assurance Partnership.

The death of a child is a devastating loss that profoundly affects all those involved. The process of systematically reviewing the deaths of children is grounded in respect for the rights of both children and their families, with the intention of learning what happened and why, and preventing future child deaths.

Child Death Review partners are local authorities and any ICBs for the local area as set out in the Children Act 2004, as amended by the Children and Social Work Act 2017

The Child Death Review partners operate in line with the requirements of the statutory guidance:

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 and;

Child Death Review: Statutory and Operational Guidance (England) 2018.

CDOP Newsletters

CDOP Annual Report

In addition, the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) also publish an Annual Report on the partnership arrangements which highlights trends and patterns across the Pan-Lancashire area. A public copy of the report is made available (small numbers are suppressed to protect the identity of individual cases) and can be accessed below:

CDOP Annual Report 2022/23

CDOP Annual Report 2020/21

To notify CDOP of a child death, please visit the CDOP Website or click PANLancashireCDOP eCDOP

Notification forms should be submitted within the first 24 hours following a death, or the next working day and it is important to complete the form with as much information as is available.

Should you require further information or guidance about reporting a child death, please contact a member of the Pan Lancs CDOP Team using the Contact Us form or Telephone: 01772 530329.