Child Death Overview Panel

The Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) is a panel set up by the child death review partners (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Authorities and NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough ICB) to comply with the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children: March 2018 and Child Death Review 2018.

The panel undertakes two inter-related processes to understand and review all child deaths. These are:

1. To collect and analyse information about the death of every child under 18 years in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with a view to achieve:

  • Reduction in numbers of child deaths
  • Prevention of accidents to children
  • Identification of, and understanding of patterns of childhood death 
  • Support for parents and families of deceased children
  • Improvement in interagency practice in this very sensitive area
  • Education of public and of professionals working with children
  • Highlighting any matters of concern 
  • Identifying the need for a Child Safeguarding Practice Review (CSPR) 

2. To oversee the process of conducting a Joint Agency Response (JAR)/ Information Sharing Meeting by a group of key professionals to enquire into and evaluate the unexpected death of any child.


CDOP membership consists of representatives from:

  • Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust 
  • North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust
  • Public Health for both Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
  • Cambridgeshire County Council (Children and Young People’s Services)
  • Peterborough City Council Children's Services
  • Cambridgeshire Constabulary
  • East Anglia Children’s Hospices
  • Designated Paediatricians for Safeguarding and Child Death
  • Named Safeguarding Paediatrician’s and Named Nurses
  • Coroner’s Office
  • NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
  • Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
  • Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust
  • East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
  • Safeguarding Children Partnership Children Lead.


To notify Cambridge and Peterborough CDOP of a Child Death please complete the eCDOP reporting form.