Child Death Review Committee

Department

Authority

Remuneration

Purpose:

The committee is required to review child deaths and maternal deaths as outlined in the Fatalities Investigation Act.

After each review, the Committee shall report to the Minister on its findings and submit to the Chief Medical Examiner all records relevant to the review. The Committee also monitors trends in these deaths, may make recommendations on identified trends and determines whether further review is necessary or desirable in the public interest.

Structure:

The membership of the committee shall be determined by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. The Chief Medical Examiner is an Ex-Officio member.

Competency Profile:

Those who make up the Child Death Review Committee should collectively possess the following core competencies:

• Physician with experience in pediatrics
• Social worker with knowledge of/experience in child youth and family services delivered by government
• Police officer with investigative background
• Lawyer with public law experience
• Nurse with experience in maternal and child health and/or public health
• Advocate with experience in advocacy for women and/or children and/or youth
• Educator with experience in kindergarten to grade 12 school system

Qualifications:

• High ethical standards and integrity
• Ability to apply an open-minded approach
• Strong analytical skills
• Experience in multidisciplinary team environment
• Experience in child and/or maternal health and well being
• Education in medical fields
• Education in social sciences

Time Commitments:

The Committee meets monthly, when there are child deaths to review. Committee members are required to review materials between meetings and draft reports. The chairperson also assumes additional duties including: coordinating case reviews; maintaining a data base; finalizing and submitting case reports; communicating with consultants, government officials and Child and Youth Advocate and electronic filing of reports and other documents.

Term:

A committee member shall be appointed for the term prescribed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, and notwithstanding the expiration of a committee member's term, that person shall continue to serve on the committee until reappointed or replaced.