Written question WQ99766

The Welsh Government does not currently maintain a central register of deaths of care leavers or routinely collect comprehensive national data on the number of deaths of all care leavers. There is also no expectation in Wales that local authorities notify Welsh Ministers of the death of a care leaver, although this does not preclude local authorities from collecting this information locally.

There are, however, a number of statutory notification and review arrangements through which information about the deaths of care-experienced children and young people may be considered. Section 125 of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 places a duty on local authorities to notify Welsh Ministers of the death of a child who is looked after. Local authorities are also required to notify Care Inspectorate Wales of deaths of looked after children and deaths of young people in continuing care or receiving aftercare. Registered providers also have statutory notification duties in relation to deaths.

For children under the age of 18, the Child Death Review Programme collects and analyses information on child deaths in Wales and of Welsh-resident children who die elsewhere. Where the relevant criteria are met, the Single Unified Safeguarding Review process may also apply to the deaths of care-experienced young people.

These arrangements help support inspection, assurance, oversight and learning in relation to deaths of care-experienced children and young people.