Independent Chair Child Death Overview Panel

A Vacancy at NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board.
NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board are seeking an experienced Independent Chair of the STW Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP) to work with our Chid Death Review Team and support a safe, progressive and structured approach to the review of Child Deaths to enable learning in the system and beyond. You will have recent evidence of relevant development and work closely with partners in the system to develop the annual report into Child Deaths along with the team and public health colleagues.
The successful candidate will be supported by the ICB Chief Nursing Officer and will join a friendly supportive team who are keen to deliver a contemporary Child Death review service.
This is a Contract for Service post, and as such does not attract employment rights.
Closing date is midnight Sunday 14thJanuary 2024
For a full list of responsibilities please see the job description and informal discussions are welcome. Please contactVanessa.whatley@nhs.net
The ICB have recently concluded a management of change regarding base location. As such, with effect from 1st March 2024, the base of this post will be Wellington House, Wellington, Telford.
To effectively chair the STW CDOP, working in close partnership with the Child Death Review Partners, ensuring all ICB and Public health statutory requirements are met.
To lead the CDOP Panel, ensuring all Child Death cases are reviewed in a timely way with a focus on identifying learning to inform single and multi-agency preventative working and initiatives.
To take responsibility for panel agendas, action plans, and the production of any reports as requested in conjunction with the STW CDOP team.
To assist with evaluating patterns and trends in relation to Child Deaths across the STW system and ensure these are captured and translated into improved outcomes for the local population.
Implement public health and health prevention initiatives and programmes, in line with improved outcomes as described within the Long-Term Plan and the STW Five Year Forward Plan as agreed with the Child Death Review Partners.
To develop and deliver in conjunction with the STW CDOP team an annual report summarising the activities of the CDOP.
To chair and support the STW CDOP Strategic Partnership and lead 'themed reviews' as appropriate in order to maximise and share learning.
To ensure accurate, timely governance and reporting to Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing and relevant other boards of CDOP activity and findings.
The successful candidate will be supported by the ICB Chief Nursing Officer and will join a friendly supportive team who are keen to deliver a contemporary Child Death review service.
Key Responsibilities
To effectively chair the STW CDOP, working in close partnership with the Child Death Review Partners, ensuring all ICB and Public health statutory requirements are met.
To lead the CDOP Panel, ensuring all Child Death cases are reviewed in a timely way with a focus on identifying learning to inform single and multi-agency preventative working and initiatives.
To take responsibility for panel agendas, action plans, and the production of any reports as requested in conjunction with the STW CDOP team.
To assist with evaluating patterns and trends in relation to Child Deaths across the STW system and ensure these are captured and translated into improved outcomes for the local population.
Implement public health and health prevention initiatives and programmes, in line with improved outcomes as described within the Long-Term Plan and the STW Five Year forward Plan as agreed with the Child Death Review Partners.
To develop and deliver in conjunction with the STW CDOP team an annual report summarising the activities of the CDOP.
To chair and support the STW CDOP Strategic Partnership and lead 'themed reviews' as appropriate in order to maximise and share learning.
To ensure accurate, timely governance and reporting to Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing and relevant other boards of CDOP activity and findings.
Leadership and advice
Accountability for the performance of the CDOP to the Child Death Review (CDR) Partners (Shropshire Council, Telford and Wrekin Council, NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin )
Communicate effectively and work in close partnership with the CDR Partners, CDOP Coordinator, Designated Doctors for Child Deaths and CDOP members to ensure the CDOP operates effectively and within statutory guidance.
Working closely with the CDOP Coordinator and Designated Doctors for Child Deaths, to take responsibility for co-ordinating meeting dates, panel agendas, the CDOP action plan and the production of all reports, as required.
Working closely with Public Health and health analysts, to provide the CDOP with information about epidemiological and health surveillance data.
Assist with evaluating patterns and trends in relation to Child Deaths and in implementing Public Health prevention initiatives and programmes.
Tracking progress against the CDOP action and recommendations log, ensuring that actions arising from CDOP meetings and the CDOP annual report are delivered against.
Leading agency discussions to translate learning points into single and multi-agency actions, liaising with agency heads of service where appropriate.
Lead the development, publication and delivery of the CDOP Annual Report which identifies clear learning outcomes and recommendations for further work to be undertaken by the CDOP and / or Partner Agencies and Health and Well Being Boards.
Ensuring each CDOP member represents their ‘sector’ lead both within CDOP discussions but also in the progression of CDOP business outside of Panel meetings.
Supporting the CDOP Lay Member to ensure they are equipped to fulfil their role on the CDOP being independent of all services and provide additional expertise and insight to the CDOP.
Develop, promote and maintain positive working relationships with all relevant agencies and organisations as required. Facilitate resolution of agency disputes where necessary.
Promptly raise issues identified about a CDOP members performance, and / or single agency practice with that agency.
Ensuring adequate time is given to proper preparation for and administration of meetings and actions arising for the Chair. This includes the reading of documents and the scrutinising of draft minutes within agreed timescale and responding to correspondence to the Chair.
Respect the confidentiality of sensitive information provided by the CDOP Partner Agencies in accordance with CDOP Policies and Practice.
Ensure that new panel members, members invited to CDOP, and observers sign a Confidentiality Agreement.
Inform the CDR Partners should the CDOP Panel not operate effectively.
Attend meetings as requested of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Partnerships and Health & Wellbeing Boards and provide written reports on the learning arising from CDOP activity.
Maintaining knowledge of the current broad national and local children’s agenda and related issues that may influence it.
Accountable for independently chairing the STW CDOP Panel and leading themed reviews across the geography (expected to be up to 6 times a year with additional CDOP panels by exception).
Working closely and liaising with the CDOP Coordinator to coordinate meeting dates, identify and develop the themed agenda, and to feed back.
Management
This post will be independent of all Child Death Review partner agencies. To ensure compliance with statutory guidance the CDOP should be chaired by someone independent of the key providers (NHS, social services, and police) in the area.
Hours and days will be recorded and reviewed by the ICB Chief Nursing Officer or delegated person on behalf of the CDR partners six monthly. Any additional hours and work will be agreed by the CDR Partners; it is expected that the Independent Chair will ensure availability for any additional hours required at reasonable notice.
STW Local Authorities and ICB have agreed for NHS STW (the ICB) processes to be used to form the basis of the appointment and for the quality assurance of the post on behalf of the CDR Partners.
This appointment will be for a period of one year on the first instance with a review undertaken by the Chief Nursing Officer in discussion with the Directors of Public Health on a 6 monthly basis.
The requirements and responsibilities of the post will be reviewed each year by the CDR Partners.
The postholder will be required to travel and attend CDOP and other related meetings in the Shropshire Telford and Wrekin geography however it is also expected that electronic means of communication will be utilised to aid efficient and effective working as required.
Some travel to Regional and occasional National Events may be required, but notice will be given.
The postholder will be required to provide their own office base, information technology equipment and phone.
The postholder will be required to comply with NHS ICB policies and practices relating to secure document storage and will be provided with a secure email to conduct CDOP business.
The postholder will be supported in this role by a CDOP team in line with the national guidance.
This advert closes on Sunday 14 Jan 2024