The government will overhaul the way child deaths are investigated after an independent review found the Serious Case Review process was “discredited” and unfit for purpose.

Under the current system, Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards are required to undertake Serious Case Reviews when a child dies or is seriously injured and abuse or neglect is thought to be involved.

The government will replace this locally-commissioned system with a new centralised framework based on a mixture of national and local reviews. Ministers believe the new system will bring greater consistency, speed and quality to investigations.