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Head of Haringey child team will earn £200,000
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent12.12.08
THE man named today as Sharon Shoesmith's replacement in Haringey will be paid nearly £200,000 a year, the Standard can reveal.
Peter Lewis, currently director of children's services at Enfield, was appointed by Schools Secretary Ed Balls to take over from 1 January.
Mr Lewis, 54, acknowledged he would face "challenges" tackling the legacy of the Baby P tragedy but promised to give children in Haringey "better lives".
His appointment comes amid national outrage at how 17-month-old Baby P was allowed to die in his cot after months of abuse despite being seen dozens of times by health and social workers. Mr Lewis said he was pleased to take on the job, which is understood to have a salary of almost £200,000, and promised to work to bring "stability and renewed confidence" to staff in Haringey. Ms Shoesmith was believed to be earning in the region of £140,000.
"I do not underestimate the challenges associated with taking on this role but I believe we can build a strong team at Haringey and deliver better lives for local children and young people," said Mr Lewis.
"I look forward to taking up the new job in January and discussing with the staff and other organisations in Haringey how we can learn from the past and improve services for the future.
"Safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole borough, not any one team or person," he said. "Therefore the role of director of children's services requires the ability to bring lots of different people and services together to focus on the needs of children and young people."
Mr Lewis has been director of children's services in Enfield since February 2004. His work on improving child protection services there was praised by Ofsted. He had the same role in Southampton and has worked as a teacher and social worker.
Ms Shoesmith, who was widely condemned over her refusal to apologise in the Baby P case, has been sacked with no pay-off.
Mr Balls said: "Peter Lewis has great experience and an excellent reputation. I am confident that he will provide the strong leadership which is needed to improve outcomes for children and young people in Haringey.
Reader views (12)
Well if you wont good staff you gota pay good rates,the bankers and city boys will tell you that.
- Kev, London-UK
The contract must be based on results with conditions in contract not to pay if results not achieved.
- Edwin Underhill, beaconsfield buckinghamshire
So people are seriously suggesting employing someone to do a job and then to decide what to pay him later on. I am sure plenty of people would have applied for the job of Director of Children's Services on that basis.
Up until this year, city workers contributing to our private sector messing up the country could have got that salary total just as a Christmas bonus.
I actually agree no-one needs that much - but if City boys get millions for making a series of educated gambles with other people's money, I am happy to have someone that might save several childrens' lives getting a decent wage.
- Saunaing Tic Gill, London
One wonders with what justification this gentleman will be paid this perverse salary. Where the money will come from is blatantly clear. The people of Haringey will foot the bill via the dreaded Community Charge, which, considering conditions in this place, is already way too high, and crippling us all.Above all, why is he being paid 60 grand more than his failed predecessor? Please, Haringey, can I have a job like that, I might then be able to live in my own home again.
- Ray King, wood green, haringey and kassel, germany
In the present economic climate no-one deserves such a high salary. Another example of Haringey council squandering tax payers' money in an effort to cover up their gross negligence. Surely it would have been more advisable to wait and see how quickly and how well this new head of children's services reforms this corrupt council before doubling his salary.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
He might be being paid that amount, but he certainly won't earn it.
- L.Taubler, London / UK
If this man has such a strong leadership skills and an excellent reputation: Quote Edd Balls.
Then where was he when all these qualifications were so desperately needed to save Baby P let alone the many other babies and infants who are so callously DROPPED from the files ( Grafts and %'s ) because the council need to save money?
I think this is a disgrace!! The man has not done a job yet even to think himself worth this extortionate wage!!
We have been hearing how the whole set up is in chaos not just Haringey but accross the whole of the UK. So we all must ask and get the answers to how is this man worth so much of the TAX PAYERS MONEY???
None of us have seen any results to say otherwise........Let him do a job first, and then decide if and when he has improved on child safety.
We will need to see a brand new safety net put in place first and a new way of teaching the bottom floor how to get access into an abusers home with the help of the police if not accessable!!
- Valerie, Hanworth Middlesex
No one in public service should be paid such a huge amount of money paid for out of taxed income.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
It’s outrageous the obscene wages these people are awarding themselves with no authority apparently able to control this constant and uncalled for escalation in council wages. I guarantee, a perfectly able and probably more competent head could have been selected from those applying for the job advertised at £50,000 per annum.
- William Boreham, mitcham uk
"His work on improving child protection services there was praised by Ofsted"
Didn't Ofsted say the same about Sharon Shoesmith, yes indeed they did.
Roger, Surrey. I couldn't agree more, we all need to get together and stop paying our council taxes, £200K on a member of staff, DISGRACEFULL
- P I Staker, London
Its getting time to make a stand and simply refuse to pay your Council Tax to fund these ridiculous wages. NOBODY deserves this kind of pay. Its immoral that in the same Borough pensioners will be stuck in one small room desperately trying to keep warm.
- Roger, Surrey.
In a country that needs to borrow £2 billion/week to pay its bills, with the average non-government worker facing precarious and scary futures, paying these kinds of salaries and pensions to govt employees is grotesque and shameful. When will the UK govt reduce spending and live within their means? How far further will the pound need to drop? Or will this govt only stop when their lenders refuse to lend more - sometime mid 2009?
- Kr, Florence ITALY
