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Baby P council still falls short on protection
Tim Ross03.07.09
The council at the centre of the Baby P scandal is still failing to protect children from abuse, inspectors warned today.
A new report found Haringey is suffering a shortage of "competent" social workers and child health specialists.
After tackling a backlog of hundreds of child welfare cases, the council has failed to focus on improving frontline social services, according to the joint report from the inspectorates of police, children's services, health and social care.
Ofsted's chief inspector Christine Gilbert said Haringey had made "limited progress" since November last year. She added: "Haringey must now ensure that it develops a sharper and more relentless approach to driving up the standards of frontline services."
Baby Peter died in August 2007, aged 17 months, after suffering sustained abuse and neglect at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger. He was found in his bloodied cot with more than 50 injuries.
A national outcry erupted after it emerged that Peter had been on Haringey's at risk register and had been seen 60 times by professionals supposed to protect children from harm.
Inspectors condemned the council's social services in December. Children's Secretary Ed Balls ordered them back to see if progress had been made.
Reader views (3)
The Social workers have all been trained the political correction way and do not grasp common sense.
- Joe, Swanley Kent
The ultimate "rotten Borough"
- John Graham, london UK
When will these people learn? I still have nightmares thinking of what baby P must have suffered. The Haringey Council seem to be chasing targets, clearing backlogs, and not concentrating on what their job is really all about. Somebody please explain to them that this is the real world and not a paperwork exercise.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands
