Accountability

Child Fatality Case Reviews

Ministry practice standards require that the Director of Child Welfare be notified immediately regarding the death of a child in care or a child who has received services under the Child, Family and Community Service Act in the previous 12 months. These notifications provide the Director with the opportunity to objectively review the circumstances, receive feedback and learn from these unfortunate incidents as well as to support individuals involved. The Director may seek additional or clarifying information regarding the circumstances. Depending on the responses, the Director may be satisfied there are no outstanding issues or questions. That is often the case for natural, expected deaths when there is no reason to believe that practice would have had any impact on the outcome for the child. Otherwise, the Director may decide a formal case review is required. The decision to conduct a formal case review is made as soon as possible and no later than 20 days following the occurrence.

There are two types of formal case reviews with different methodologies, a director’s case review and a deputy director's review:

• A director's case review (DCR) is a comprehensive review that involves the examination of case files as well as interviews of relevant staff, caregivers and service providers. The decision to conduct a DCR is based on the severity of the occurrence, the potential link between case practice and the outcome and the level of response required for public accountability.
• A deputy director's review (DDR) is more limited in scope and usually consists of a file review and focuses on the last five years of service involvement. A DDR can assist the Director to determine whether a DCR is required.

Both types of reviews may result in recommendations developed to address any practice issues identified. These recommendations are tracked and monitored for implementation by the Director.

Child Fatality Case Review Summary Reports

• 2007
• 2006
• Overview 2001 - 2005
• 2005
• 2004
• 2003
• 2002
• 2001

Other Reviews and Reports

• Report of the Child and Youth Officer of BC to the Attorney General, October 20, 2006

• Minister's Statement: Special Case Review - September 1, 2006
• Summary Director's Case Review: S.C. - July 2005
• Status Report on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the SC Director's Case Review - July 2005