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Schools Secretary Ed Balls today stood by his decision to sack Haringey's social services chief over the Baby P case.
As Sharon Shoesmith prepared to challenge Mr Balls in the courts, he told the conference that he acted in the best interests of children in the borough.
Baby Peter Connelly died aged 17 months after suffering more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period, during which he was repeatedly seen by the council's social services.
But Ms Shoesmith is suing for being summarily sacked without compensation. The High Court has fast-tracked her case, setting aside three days from next week for a full hearing of the judicial review.
Ms Shoesmith suggests Mr Balls exceeded his powers when he sacked her as director of children's services in December. Ms Shoesmith has also challenged Ofsted for failing to give her any opportunity to contradict its damning report into her department.
Mr Balls said: "I had to take tough action to restore public confidence and to strengthen front-line practice. Faced with the same circumstances, I would take the same decisions again."
Mr Balls stressed that he had admiration for the 79,000 social workers across the UK, pointing out they were "doing a job which can be tough and sometimes dangerous - but which saves lives and makes a huge difference to thousands of families."
He added: "We rarely get the chance to celebrate the quiet successes of our social workers. I am determined to do whatever it takes to get them the training, the IT, the support they need."
Reader views (6)
i think ed balls was right. personally would like to see her charged with corporate manslaughter. there are a group of us who will be protesting at the appeal next week and welcome you to join us.
- Mandy Francis, chehunt herts
She should be ashamed of herself for what she let happen to that beautiful little boy. Babies like him rely on the like of Sharon Shoesmith to save them and she failed.
It was right that she should be sacked. She must be a hard woman to keep putting herself in the spotlight like this. Why doesn't she just go away. Far away.
- Pamela Durham, pontefract
This vile woman should shut up, sacking her is the only decent thing Mr Balls has ever done.
- Vince, London, West London
If not for negligence then a Custodial should have been put in place for corporate manslaughter as she was the "controlling mind" of the council policy on child services
- Richard, Birmingham
why dont this horrid woman just go and crawl under the stone she came from
i wish her lots of BAD LUCK IN THE FUTURE
- Terry Chambers, London
She should be serving a custodial sentence for criminal negligence. Vile woman.
- R.F.York, Yorks, UK
