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Under scrutiny ... council director, social workers and health staff
Evening Standard12.11.08
Haringey council director of children's services
HAS resolutely defended her team's handling of the case, saying none of them would be sacked and she “certainly won't be resigning”.
The £100,000-a-year official has twice refused to apologise to Baby P's natural father despite evidence at the Old Bailey that social workers ignored warnings from doctors.
Ms Shoesmith, who has overall responsibility for education and social services in Haringey, said she was “satisfied that the action that should have been taken was taken” and there was “not the evidence” for anyone to lose their jobs.
The merger of the education and social services departments was introduced in the wake of the Climbié inquiry to provide better protection for vulnerable children.
Previously a teacher and schools inspector, Ms Shoesmith was not called to give evidence at the Old Bailey, but formed a key part of the serious case review. However, her role as head of Haringey's Local Safeguarding Children Board, which will investigate her department's conduct in the case, highlights a potential conflict of interest.
She said: “The child was killed by members of his own family and not by social services. The very sad fact is that we can't stop people who are determined to kill children.”
MARIA WARD
Social worker
APPOINTED Baby P's social worker from February last year — six months before he died. Ms Ward saw the child four days before his death and failed to see wounds and bruises deliberately covered with chocolate and nappy cream. She told the court that she thought he “appeared well”. Ms Ward, 39, of Islington, made at least nine visits to the family's filthy, “urine smelling” house before Baby P's death.
The court heard she saw the child headbutting the floor and visited the home after Baby P was taken to hospital in April last year with a large swelling on his head, bruising and scratches. A childminder also informed Ms Ward that she had seen blood coming from the child's ear.
Ms Ward has not been sacked. She has refused to take phone calls at work and could not be reached at her home in Camden.
SYLVIA HENRY
Social worker
HEAVILY criticised by the Climbié inquiry for her failings eight years ago, she played a role in the decision to return Baby P to his mother after his first visit to hospital. In the Baby P case, she was one of a team of social workers who deemed it appropriate to return him to his mother during the initial inquiry in December 2006.
She and others were taken in by the mother's lies that there were reasonable explanations for her baby's injuries and that there was no one else living in their home.
In fact, she had moved in her boyfriend and a lodger, Jason Owen, and the trio subjected the boy to months of abuse that led to his death. Ms Henry is not one of the three staff to receive written warnings and she is not believed to be facing any form of discipline.
PAULETTE THOMAS
Health visitor
SAW Baby P four times in the six months after he was placed on the child protection register. His mother cancelled or missed six appointments at the baby clinic in the weeks before his death. Mrs Thomas, 43, said Baby P looked healthy at his one year check-up in March last year, but was losing weight by June and a month later was even weaker and covered with scabs and bruises. It is unclear whether she alerted social services.
DR SABAH ALZAYYAT
Paediatrician
FAILED to spot a catalogue of injuries when she examined the toddler two days before he died. The Old Bailey heard Baby P's ribs were already broken and that his spine had “probably” been snapped, leaving him semi-paralysed.
The locum consultant, who was working at St Ann's Hospital in Tottenham, did not carry out a full examination as Baby P was “miserable and cranky”.
The Saudi Arabian trained paediatrician, 52, from Ilford, has been suspended from working with children and is facing a General Medical Council investigation. She said she was not told of any child protection concerns. Her contract was terminated by St Ann's hospital. She is appealing.
GILLIE CHRISTOU
Team Manager in Haringey council children's services
APPROVED the decision to return Baby P to his mother after her second arrest over suspicions of assault in June last year. Mrs Christou, 50, was Ms Ward's supervisor and as such held responsibility for those on Haringey's child protection register. The court heard she based her decision to return Baby P on the understanding that his mother's friend would supervise them. But the friend rarely visited Baby P and his mother. The serious case review will examine the arrangement and Mrs Christou's handling of her social workers.
Reader views (22)
My little boy is 21 months old, I can not even bare to think what this little baby had to go through. Little Peter, sorry that there was nobody that you could have run to...sorry that there was nobody that could have protected you from this evil world. Rest in PEACE angel-pie. x
And for Maria Ward, shame on you for not being able to tell the difference between a healthy boy running around and a paralised child with a broken back!
- Karin Pieters, Pretoria South Africa
I have never been so heartbroken or disturbed in my life. I have cried rivers of tears for this darling little boy who never hurt anyone yet suffered more pain and hurt in his short life than most of us would ever imagine. I feel the only justice now would be to see all of the social workers, so called child protection officers and sham of a paediatrician sacked and shamed! Protection for children - that's a joke! There was no-one to protect that little angel, nobody cared - may God forgive them all.
- Mary, Kent, Kent
that poor little boy,theres not many things upset me after 25 years working in construction in and around london and the south east,but the plight of baby p reduced me to tears.in this day and age how can so many miss so many clues to the suffering of this little mite,hang your heads in shame haringey council,after climbie you owed all the children under your so called protection better,once again another child has died in horrific surcumstances and all that seems to matter is covering your own backsides,all involved,do the decent thing,admit your mistakes and resign !!!
- Phil Stone, rotherham uk
Email to Cllr Meehan, Leader of Haringey Council
Dear Councillor Meehan,
I refer you to your words in your Leader's column of January 12 2007;
'Giving Children the Best Start in Life'
'Christmas is coming, and as ever the festive season is a time to think of others, and think about the future.
One way to make a real difference, over Christmas and into the New Year, is to recycle as much as possible, and cut down on the amount of rubbish you throw out if you can. Haringey will again be organising Christmas tree recycling, and you can find full details of our services plus tips in your latest edition (December 2006/January 2007) of Haringey People.
We are now moving ahead with plans for new children's centres, a major investment to give our youngest residents the best possible start in life. See our feature Building the best start in life'.
I suggest that you as Leader, Haringey Council and in particular your Director of Social Services, Sharon Shoesmith think about your future and failure to protect 'Baby P' to have the best possible start in life. Yes, Christmas is a time to think of others. The British public think about how 'Baby P' might have enjoyed fun Christmas Days with some toys, laughter and being made a fuss of.
Now he has been 'recycled'. Thrown out as 'rubbish'. Shame on all of you.
- Vernon Turner, St Ives Cambs
No other story has ever affected me like this. I am in my forties and haven't cried so much in years. I have a boy who is a month younger that poor P would be now. How anyone can hurt a child in such a brutal way is beyond belief.
As for the social workers, health visitor and Ms Shoesmith, I don't know how they can live with themselves. They should resign with immediate affect. We surely can't trust people like them to look after our vulnerable children?
- Paul Haig, Coventry
What is the reasoning behind releasing the names of the Social Workers involved in this case whilst the identity of the Police Officers and their superiors who shot dead Charles de Menezes are protected?
- Anna Simpson, London
If the Director of Children's Services refuses to resign, or even apologise, following the death of a baby under her care, I would like to know, what in her opinion warrants her resignation? I feel, like the majority of people, absolute revulsion at her behaviour and comments and would like to know what measures and legislation is in place to monitor such utter inefficiency. This is not a matter of scapegoating, this is a matter of justice. I feel sick to my stomach at how much damage Ms Shoesmith has done. If she is not paid to take responsibility then what exactly is she being paid for?
- Patrick, Ex London, Dublin
Haringey is not capable of protecting children and the role should be given to a special agency where staff are totally accountable.
Shoesmith is a disgrace and all the other "failures" mentioned in the article should be removed from their jobs.
- John Daniels, London England
I am so shocked at this case!!! I have never cried so much i dont even know the baby! there shouldnt be a social services because they have let this happen and im sure it will happen again, because people are not bothered these days about childrens safety all they are bothered about is money. i think the people that were on the case of baby p should be sacked! and as for the parents well they should be hung they shouldnt have the luxury of prison being fed being able to shower and wash and use the toilet. Ill give a prime example of social services not caring, i bought a house in liverpool it used to be a care home for children and in the loft i found notes up on notes of cases of abused children the notes were detailed in what happened to the children and i phoned the carers who ran the home and they paid me 20 pounds for ringing them and giving them the important files! i ve never been so shocked in all my life!!
- Heather Burke, Lancashire Blackpool
Shoesmith appears to be back to work as usual. Her recommendation will be to add an extra tick box for staff. She's far too ambitious to ponder over Baby P's case too long and she knows the publicity will pass. By supporting Harringey Council, she is sending out a clear message of "look after me and I'll look after you". She is preparing the groundwork for her next career move.
- Maria, Munich, Germany
Sharon Shoesmith should understand that it is time to take responsibility and not to blame others. She and her services are equal parties to this crime and should be punished
- Raji, london
Isn't 'preventing family's killing children' exactly what she, as head of Haringey's Local Safeguarding Children Board is employed to do? If she can't protect those vunerable children then replace her and the rest of those incompetent council workers with people who can and will. If they worked in the private sector none of those mentioned would still be employed.
- Suzanne, Ex London, Australia
Having past experience with Social Services there does seem to be a feminist ideology that an abused/dead child is better than putting the child in the safe hands of the father.
- Jud, Southampton
The ineptitude, complacency and total lack of common, empathy and remours defies belief. They should all be sacked immediately from their jobs and Haringay Social Services disbanded.
And our taxes are paying their salaries. This is both unacceptable and outrageous.
- Sue Scott, Leeds
I am a mother of a small boy the same age as baby P and it makes me cry when I read about the misery that they caused to one so innocent - and just how easily it could have been stopped. This isn't the time for a witch hunt of those who didn't stop this but lets use the anger to change our views - to speak out and to make sure that this poor little child's suffering is the last. This CANNOT be allowed to happen to a child on the at risk register. We need to take bring in radical solutions to stop this from happening. I would happily allow anyone to come and undertake a medical examination of my child as I have nothing to hide. This should be compulsory for all those on the at risk register - and if the parents object or cancel appointments then surely they have something to hide?
- Kate, London, walthamstow London
I am heartbroken to think what this child has suffered. I saw the interview of Ms Shoesmith last night whose attitude was unbelievable. What is their job? I thought it was to protect children like this. This child should have been taken away to safety many many months ago,never mind leaving a friend of the mother to supervise. Everyone has failed.
A paediatrician who is unable to spot injuries - whatever next? This is a very distressing case - whatever happened to the child's safety and well being is paramount? He is safe from his abusers now.
- Very Upset, lancs
I pay my council tax to this dreadful Local Authority and if it is even a month late, they threaten to sue me. Now I know why - they have so many large salaries to pay. Services are secondary. This is all about money.
- Ged Dixon, London, UK
Responsibility for child protection should be taken away from local authorities and given to a specialist agency such as the NSPCC.
- Carol, Reading UK
Sharon Shoesmith's comments are inexcusable -- she should be dismissed.
Let's get a petition going to the Children's Secretary for her dismissal.
- Matthew, London
Shoesmith should be the first to go with her ridiculous statement "This was a family that needed, and was given, extensive help and support." the child needed support, do you get it shoesmith, the child, not the family. and to suggest that no one should be sacked for it is also a disgrace to the memory of this child and natural father. Her arrogant words she said that she “certainly won't be resigning” just makes me feel so angry. On £2k a week no wonder she won't. People have failed to do their jobs properly here, no matter what anybody says, they have failed yet another child.
- Scaryworld, north england
What on earth are these people being paid to do? That poor little child, I can not stop thinking about what that little child went through.
- Janine Cummins, newtownabbey
I'm furious. All these people have failed at some level or another. The baby was not examined by a paediatrician properly because he was miserable and cranky? So would you be with a snapped spine and 8 broken ribs. The Director of Children's Services won't resign? Would you if you made £100,000 a year and weren't held accountable for the actions of your department? Sack her. NOW.
- Andy Seaman, Bow, London
