Morning:
6°c
Haringey is blamed for failure to protect yet another at-risk victim
Jack Lefley and Paul Cheston1 May 2009
Haringey council was today embroiled in another child protection scandal as details of the girl's ordeal emerged.
The beleaguered authority, which was pilloried over the death of Baby P, faced questions about how it allowed another child on its protection register to suffer abuse.
Meetings with care workers again failed to prevent a vulnerable child being left in harm's way.
And again it happened on the watch of disgraced former head of children's services Sharon Shoesmith — who is fighting a £1 million compensation battle against her sacking.
The sex attack by Baby P's stepfather illustrated further the betrayal of the most vulnerable children.
It is the latest of several scandals to hit the north London authority, which had seen two of the worst child protection cases in British history — one being the case of Baby P, who died on 3 August 2007 with multiple injuries despite many visits from social workers, doctors and police.
The 17-month-old's mother, 28, her 32-year-old boyfriend, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and their lodger, Jason Owen, are awaiting sentence for causing or allowing his death.
Seven years earlier eight-year-old Victoria Climbié died after months of abuse and torture at the hands of her great aunt and the woman's boyfriend.
Again blunders allowed her ordeal to continue despite the fact she was seen by several social workers, nurses, doctors and police officers.
Victoria's death sparked a 15-month public inquiry led by Lord Laming who, in 2003, laid bare fatal flaws in social care and made 108 recommendations.
But four years later the case of Baby P put Haringey back under the spotlight.
He died in his blood-splattered cot with more than 50 injuries despite being on the child protection register. Two days before his death hospital doctor Sabah al-Zayyat failed to spot eight fractured ribs and his broken back.
Ms Shoesmith led the first serious case review and claimed her department acted appropriately. She sparked outrage by refusing to apologise for Baby P's suffering.
But she was sacked after Children's Secretary Ed Balls rejected the review and an inspectors' report delivered a damning verdict on Haringey council.
It found the authority failed to comply with requirements introduced after the death of Victoria Climbié.
Council leader, George Meehan, and Liz Santry, cabinet member for children and young people, resigned.
But Ms Shoesmith is claiming sexual discrimination over her dismissal from the £110,000-a-year post.
On Wednesday four more people were sacked. Deputy director of children and families Celia Hitchen, social worker Maria Ward, team manager Gillie Christou and head of safeguarding services Clive Preece were all dismissed.
Two doctors who treated Baby P have been suspended from practice by the General Medical Council, Dr al-Zayyat and family GP Dr Jerome Ikwueke.
Ms Shoesmith was replaced as head of children's services by Peter Lewis, a senior Enfield council manager and the director of children's services in Kent, Graham Badman, took over her role as chairman of the local safeguarding children board. He led the second serious case review into Baby P's death, expected to be published soon, and is leading a review into the girl's ordeal.
After the Baby P case, Lord Laming was again asked to investigate child protection nationally and made 58 recommendations. He warned as many as 200,000 children could be at risk of abuse because of failings.
Reforms were announced, including annual inspections of authorities by children's services watchdog Ofsted and compulsory retraining for child protection directors.
But the changes came too late to protect the girl.
Reader views (3)
These people where placed in a trusted position and paid for a job that they did not do. Every penny should be
returned. Freeze their assets.
- Angel, London, 03/05/2009 23:52
Report abuse
At first we were saying these people should be sacked not just suspended. Then we were saying they shouldn't get pay offs. Now I am saying THEY SHOULD BE IN PRISON alongside the perpetrators of these horrific abuses.
- Real, London, 01/05/2009 17:12
Report abuse
Too late for this poor girl but all those involved at the Council must never again work in this area again, just sacking this filth is not enough any pension benefits at the very least should be removed and even criminal charges bought against them
- Mike, London England, 01/05/2009 17:01
Report abuse
