Morning:
11°c
Baby P staff could face the sack as watchdog launches new probe
Jack Lefley and Anna Davis13.11.08
THE social workers who failed to save the life of Baby P could lose their jobs after a new probe was launched into the tragedy.
Professional regulators today announced they had begun an investigation into the actions of those involved in the case.
The General Social Care Council, which registers all social workers in England, said it had started "preliminary inquiries" at Haringey council to see if anyone had breached its professional code of practice.
It has the power to admonish them, suspend them for two years or remove them from the register altogether, meaning they could not work anywhere in the country. The move could affect all the Haringey social workers involved in the child's care, including:
● Maria Ward: Repeatedly taken in by the mother's lies. She said Baby P seemed "well" four days before his death.
● Gillie Christou: In charge of the council's child protection register. She approved the boy's return home.
● Sylvia Henry: Took part in the decision to send Baby P back to his mother. She was also accused of lying in the Victoria Climbié case.
It will not affect the council's director of children's services, Sharon Shoesmith, as she is not a registered social worker.
Baby P died in a blood-spattered cot at his home in Haringey last August after suffering abuse at the hands of his 27-year-old mother, 32-year-old boyfriend and a lodger, Jason Owen, 36.
The three were convicted at the Old Bailey of causing or allowing his death. The 17-month-old died - despite being on the child protection register - after blunders by social workers, doctors and police.
Rosie Varley, the regulator's chairman, said: "We are deeply saddened by this case and we are conducting our own preliminary inquiries to establish whether the circumstances have any bearing on the suitability of individual social workers to remain on the register.
"All registered social workers are required to meet the highest standards of care and abide by our code of practice, to which they are held accountable." Haringey council refused to comment on the move today. Children's Secretary Ed Balls today refused to say whether anyone at Haringey should lose their jobs.
He would not condemn Mrs Shoesmith for failing to apologise for the toddler's death but said he would wait for the results of a separate inquiry by the HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, Ofsted and the Healthcare Commission.
Mr Balls said: "I've sent in the national inspectors to do a report in the next two weeks on what's happened and what needs to be done. It's appalling what happened and I'm sure all of us are so sorry for what has happened to this poor little boy. But in Haringey there are some particular issues. We will now look at Haringey in detail and decide whether we need to act."
It emerged today that Mrs Shoesmith refused to order a full review into the Baby P case six months after his death. Mrs Shoesmith, who earns £110,000 a year and who has robustly defended the council's actions, said the review would "not be beneficial". She last night refused to comment, but earlier claimed: "There was good practice but it wasn't enough to save the life of this child."
Mr Balls's independent experts are due to make an initial report by 1 December. Lord Laming has been asked to carry out a nationwide review of services.
