Safeguarding of children
The obligation on a local authority to establish a Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) was imposed by section 13 of the Children Act 2004. The functions of an LSCB are set out in section 14 of that Act, and further functions are conferred by the Local Safeguarding Children Boards Regulations 2006. The function of undertaking a serious case review in cases where abuse or neglect is suspected and a child has died or has been seriously harmed currently lies with the LSCB under regulation 5(1) (e) and 5(2) of the 2006 Regulations. The function in relation to child deaths currently lies with the LSCB under regulation 6 of the 2006 Regulations. The LSCB is responsible for ensuring the collection and analysis of information about each death (with a view to identifying the need for a review by a child death overview panel); matters of concern affecting the safety and welfare of children in the area of the authority and any wider public health or safety concerns arising from a particular death or from a pattern of deaths in that area; and for putting in place procedures for ensuring that there is a coordinated response by the authority, their board partners and any other relevant persons to an unexpected death.