A multi-agency SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy) prevention training and implementation programme
In the UK, Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy (SUDI) is clustered in vulnerable families for whom universal infant sleep safety guidance is not effective. Recent reports have highlighted the need for Multi-Agency Working (MAW) approaches. This project has coproduced, piloted, implemented and evaluated a multi-agency SUDI prevention programme in County Durham and Northumberland.
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Multi-agency working means that different services will work together to ensure staff across a region are able to contribute towards SUDI prevention in vulnerable families within their own scope of practice. All staff in roles that bring them into contact with vulnerable families who may have infants will have the knowledge to identify SUDI risks and to direct service users to the correct support services as required, with any safeguarding concerns addressed though the appropriate channels.
Eyes on the Baby is a comprehensive training programme designed to complement existing health service pathways; by having more staff with “eyes on the baby” there are more opportunities to support service users and their families.
This programme is now available to support wider MAW approaches for SUDI prevention and includes extensive training with implementation support within relevant organisations.
The Eyes on the Baby Information Sheet provides a downloadable overview for you to take away and share.
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Eyes on the Baby is not for individuals or small organisations/departments to train and implement in their own localised area. This is a Multi-Agency Working (MAW) approach to SUDI prevention and as such should involve multiple organisations/departments.
The training is divided into three separate groups (Strands) and these provide an indication of the range of people needing to be involved with implementation.
Strand 1: For workforce members who go inside homes, who talk to new parents, or who help in a crisis. They will keep ‘Eyes on the Baby’: observe, listen, nudge, and refer/report.
Strand 2: For workforce members who provide direct support to priority families. They will raiseawareness of and reinforce SUDI prevention: explore, remind, support and refer/report.
Strand 3: Healthcare professionals will offer targeted SUDI prevention advice, support, inform and guide families, referring to additional services as required. Healthcare professionals will respond to concerns raised as needed from people in strands 1 and 2.
Strategic leads can refer to Information for decision-makers for more information or email Eyes on the Baby to ask anything.
Sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUDI) now cluster in the most impoverished communities in the UK, affecting the highest priority families facing multiple challenges. Universal SUDI prevention guidance delivered by midwives and health visitors, while crucial for maintaining awareness of SUDI prevention within the general population, is insufficient for preventing infant deaths in these complex circumstances.
Multi-agency workforce (MAW) SUDI prevention leverages the relationships and contact opportunities that other professionals and services have with at-risk families, and makes use of every opportunity to support infant safety in the most challenging situations, and avoid preventable infant deaths.
Increasingly the families at risk for SUDI in the UK are also at risk of other adverse outcomes, including child abuse and neglect. The National Child Safeguarding Practice Review panel’s Out of Routine report (2020) notes that although universal SUDI prevention information is rigorously delivered by health professionals, many of the families most at-risk of SUDI are unwilling or unable to receive or act on this information, and that “something needs to change in the way we work with these most vulnerable families” to prevent avoidable SUDI.
By taking a MAW approach to prevention and support, you and your organisation have an increased chance of reducing the risks associated with SUDI and thus lessen the number of future deaths.
You can visit the Signup, setup and delivery page to better understand the whole process and to register your interest in implementing Eyes on the Baby.
Strategic leads can also refer to Information for decision-makers for more information or email Eyes on the Baby to ask anything.
As an organisational Multi Agency Working (MAW) programme Eyes on the Baby is intended for institutional and team delivery. Learn more about the structure of the programme and people involved.
Our research covers a broad range of topics including infant and child sleep ecology, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), parental sleep, postnatal ward environments and maternal-infant sleep, and cross-cultural infant care practices.
We are one of the largest Anthropology Departments in the UK and one of only a few to span Social Anthropology, Evolutionary Anthropology and Anthropology of Health.
Taking a multi-agency approach to reducing SUDI and supporting those affected.
Anthropology DepartmentDurham UniversityHilton CottageDurhamDH1 3BN
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