Why Jason Died

Why Jason Died is a drama intended to familiarise key professionals and their managers with the processes to be followed when a child dies: to provide information and to stimulate discussion. These processes are set out in the Government’s statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010).

It can be viewed online (see below), divided into seven short chapters. The DVD and CD are also available, from CDOP Co-ordinator.
Please e-mail your request to: cdop@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

View Online

Please read Health Warnings before proceeding.

You may also wish to view the accompanying PDF which answers questions that may be raised in the course of watching this drama.

The following links will load the individual chapters of the film in new windows;

Chapter One: The 999 call

Chapter Two: Support and investigations

Chapter Three: Multi-agency rapid response

Chapter Four: Post mortem

Chapter Five: Joint home visit

Chapter Six: Devil in the detail

Chapter Seven: Outcome

Role of Local Safeguarding Children Boards

Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) are required, from 1 April 2008, to review all child deaths in their local authority area (or areas where more than one LSCB is jointly undertaking this task), and to have in place processes to respond to, enquire into and evaluate each unexpected death to provide an understanding of the reasons for it.

Target Audience

The DVD has been developed for a range of professional audiences. It focuses on the roles and responsibilities of those who are responding to an unexpected death of a child, and includes information about the roles of LSCBs and overview panels. More in-depth training will be required by those who will have key roles in either responding to or reviewing information about the deaths of children.

The Actors

Everyone taking part in this drama plays themselves.  Only Jason’s mother and grandmother are played by actors.

Health Warning

Viewers may find some scenes distressing. It is therefore recommended that the DVD is viewed with a colleague or a group of colleagues. Also that a manager or designated professional is identified who is well placed to provide support as necessary.

Q and A

The DVD is accompanied by a CD containing a PDF which answers questions that may be raised in the course of watching this drama Why Jason Died. You can also click here to view the PDF online.

Policy Background

The introduction of the new child death review processes was signaled in the Government’s response to the Victoria Climbié Inquiry Report (2003) and the Green Paper Every Child Matters (2003). One of the functions of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) set out in Regulation 6 (SI No 2006/90) is to undertake the reviewing of all child deaths in their area. Chapter 7 in Working Together (HM Government 2010) sets out the guidance to be followed by LSCBs.