Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants

1. Maternal and Child Health Conference Friday 22 February 2013 Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants Office of the Child Safety Commissioner Loula Dounias & Heather Ploeger

2. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants The Child Safety Commissioner has the statutory responsibility to conduct an inquiry in relation to a child who has died and who was a Child Protection client at the time or within 12 months of death.

3. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants The child death inquiry function will be transferred to the new Commission for Children and Young People on 1 March 2013

4. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants Between 1996 and 2011 there were 324 deaths of children known to Child Protection Of the 324 deaths, 202 (62%) were infants aged from birth to under 4 years Of the 202 infant deaths 105 (52%) were younger than 6 months

5. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants Deaths of children known to Child Protection 1996-2011: Infants 0-3 years by category of death (N=202)

6. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants The high number of infant deaths is consistent with other jurisdictions nationally and internationally (NZ, Northern Ireland, UK, USA & Canada) Vincent, Sharon (2013) Preventing child deaths, Learning from review

7. What have we learnt about working with vulnerable infants and their families through child death inquiries?

8. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants -1- When vulnerable infants are born into complex family structures, it is important to intervene early and provide an effective response in order to ensure that their wellbeing, safety, learning and developmental needs are met.

9. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants -2- When infants present with complex medical needs, assessment processes need to be informed by a sound understanding of the infant’s medical condition, daily care needs and the parents capacity to perform complex and repetitive procedures in the home environment.

10. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants -3- Vulnerable and at risk families are hard to reach using traditional public health education strategies and require more assertive and direct intervention.

11. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants Sharing of information (verbal and documented). Understanding the parent’s capacity to provide adequate and safe care Challenging the notion that all parents want or are able to do the right thing by their children.

12. Learning from child death inquiries about vulnerable infants Through our work in inquiries we have learnt that the safety and wellbeing of children hinges on the early identification of risk and prevention of harm and that we all have a valuable role to play.