How did you feel when you heard about Baby P? Shock and horror, without doubt, that a child could be treated so in 21st century Britain. Incredulity, perhaps, at reports that Haringey’s director of children’s services said no social worker was to blame; all the proper protocols had been observed.
The Secretary of State removed Sharon Shoesmith from her post, Haringey Council dismissed her summarily with no compensation. The council rejected her appeal.
Blameless career in tatters
Her hitherto distinguished and apparently blameless career is in tatters. Once one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools and then Haringey’s director of education until the same council made her their director of children’s services. Now disgraced and out of work.
Is she to blame or is she as much a victim as baby P? Victim of an extraordinary national penchant for creating impossible jobs and then being surprised when things go wrong.
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