PART 15Other requirements on service providers

Notification with respect to the death of a child accommodated in a secure children's home62

1

This regulation applies where a child to whom a secure accommodation service F1 is provided dies.

2

Any requirements imposed by this regulation apply to the service provider of the secure accommodation service which was providing accommodation to the child at the time of the death.

3

If this regulation applies, the service provider must without delay notify—

a

the appropriate office of the service regulator;

b

the placing authority;

c

the local authority in whose area the secure accommodation service is located;

d

the Local Health Board in whose area the secure accommodation service is located;

e

the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales (“the PPO”); and

f

the child's parent or person who has parental responsibility for the child.

4

The service provider must allow the PPO to investigate the death by—

a

granting the PPO access to—

i

the premises of the service, and

ii

the service's documents and records;

b

allowing the PPO to take away from the premises copies of any documents or records accessed under sub-paragraph (a)(ii) provided that the PPO has secure arrangements for doing so; and

c

if they consent, allowing the PPO to interview in private any children, parents (or persons with parental responsibility) or relatives, or persons working at the service.

5

A notification under this regulation—

a

must include details of—

i

the circumstances of the death;

ii

the other persons, bodies or organisations (if any) who or which the service provider has notified or proposes to notify; and

iii

any actions the service provider has taken or proposes to take as a result of the death;

b

must be made or confirmed in writing.

6

In this regulation, references to PPO include a person appointed by, or working on behalf of, the PPO for the purposes of an investigation under paragraph (2).