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'Baby P' boss sues Haringey over sacking
Jack Lefley9 Mar 2009
The social work boss sacked over the death of Baby P today lodged a claim for unfair dismissal.
Sharon Shoesmith formally lodged a claim against Haringey council at an employment tribunal.
The 55-year-old was dismissed without compensation by Haringey last month after a damning report into her department's failings.
She launched an attempt to overturn the decision but a panel of councillors rejected her appeal.
Employment law experts say Ms Shoesmith could be in line for a payout of up to £173,000 if she can prove that the council was wrong to sack her.
Reader views (10)
This woman got what she deserved! Whether she was directly responsible for Baby P's death is not the issue here. As head of the department, it was her job, her moral duty, to address the failings of both the staff members who were involved in this case and the system itself. All of the people concerned were obviously totally inadequate in terms of how they dealt with this situation, and as a direct result of their unprofessionalism and failure, a baby boy is dead! The abuse this poor child suffered and endured is incomprehensible, and the fact that the authorities were fully aware of what was happening is even more horrific. In the NHS, if a serious misdemeanour occurs as a direct result of a course of action taken by a junior doctor, a thorough investigation is launched into the circumstances surrounding the case. But it is the Consultant who is ultimately held responsible, because as head of the department, they must be held accountable because people's lives are at stake. In the same way, this woman should now accept and face up to her responsibilities. She will also have to live with the knowledge that because of her incompetence and that of her staff, an innocent little baby has lost his life, and that can never be rectified. Her energies would be better spent reflecting on this fact and coming to terms with that, rather than her current stance on how 'unfairly' treated she has been. Baby P also deserved to be treated fairly - who will address that? Beverly Hewitt.
- Beverly Hewitt, bangor, gwynedd, 07/10/2009 17:38
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How these Nu Labor guys think they can get away with anything?!? Crash Gordon go away!!
- Pat, London, 07/10/2009 16:38
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The matter should be referred to the CPS for assessment.
- Harvey Lawrence, London UK, 07/10/2009 16:38
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What a horrible woman.
- Casper Slides, France at the moment, 07/10/2009 16:38
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If she really thinks she will win then She should be required to put up a bond to cover the costs of the tribunal.
- Howard, Potters Bar UK, 07/10/2009 16:38
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I'm sure that somewhere in this story Shoesmith has been partially scapegoated. However, she should be ashamed of herself for even being a party to such dysfunctional systems whatever her role or influence truly was - the only decent person would have been a whistleblower not a salary earner turning a blind eye.
- Real, London, 07/10/2009 16:38
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Unfair, was it fair that a little baby had to die?????
- Sam Lepage, Scunthorpe, 07/10/2009 16:38
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Once apon a time being sacked for complete incompetence was expected.What has happened to us all.More importantly where has morality and personal responsibility gone.
- Helen Miller, Woodbridge, 07/10/2009 16:38
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Disgusting woman!
- Vince, London, 07/10/2009 16:38
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She needs to take time and reflect where she went wrong, she seems to have no shame.
- William, Hammersmith, 07/10/2009 16:38
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