Vicky Sleap
Deputy Director of the NCMD
Vicky Sleap is one of the Deputy Directors of the National Child Mortality Database (NCMD), alongside Sylvia Stoianova. With more than a decade of specialist experience in child death review, Vicky has played a significant role in shaping how England understands, reviews, and learns from child deaths, helping to strengthen national approaches to prevention, safeguarding, and system improvement.
Vicky has contributed to the development of revised legislation, statutory guidance, and operational processes underpinning the child death review system in England. She has also supported the creation of key review tools and forms designed to promote consistency, accountability, and high-quality practice across the country.
As part of the NCMD leadership team, Vicky helps oversee the national programme responsible for collecting and analysing data on all child deaths in England. The insights generated through this work inform policy, identify emerging risks, and support local and national organisations to target interventions where they can have the greatest impact.
A respected educator and advisor, Vicky has trained healthcare professionals, police forces, and multi-agency practitioners involved in child death review. She has also provided international consultancy to support the development of child death review systems overseas and regularly shares expertise through conferences, webinars, and professional networks.
Vicky works closely with colleagues across a range of national organisations, including the National Police Chiefs Council – Child Death Sub-group, MBRRACE-UK and the British Association of Perinatal Medicine. She is also a Trustee of 2Wish, a charity that supports families affected by the sudden or unexpected death of a child or young person.
Throughout her career, Vicky has remained committed to ensuring that learning from every child death review informs prevention efforts, improves outcomes for children and families, and contributes to saving lives.