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Ministers 'warned over Haringey' Ministers 'warned over Haringey'
(about 1 hour later)
A whistleblower warned the government of alleged failings in child protection in Haringey six months before Baby P died, it has emerged. A whistle-blower warned the government of alleged failings in child protection in Haringey six months before Baby P died, it has emerged.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) confirmed it received the letter in February 2007. Former social worker Nevres Kemal sent a letter about her concerns to the Department of Health in February 2007.
It said officials had advised it went to the social care inspectorate, and proper procedures were followed. It was passed to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which said proper procedures were followed.
Baby P, 17 months, died in August 2007 following abuse. His mother and two men were convicted of causing his death.Baby P, 17 months, died in August 2007 following abuse. His mother and two men were convicted of causing his death.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) confirmed it had received a letter dated 16 February 2007 that arose from an employment tribunal and contained "an allegation that child protection procedures were not being followed in Haringey". Lawyer Lawrence Davies told BBC Radio 4's Today programme his client's letter expressed worry that children in the borough were "at risk".
It is understood a lawyer acting for a former social worker sent the letter to the then health secretary, Patricia Hewitt. The document was then forwarded on to the DCSF. This was despite an inquiry into the killing of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie - she died from abuse and neglect in the same borough eight years ago.
A spokeswoman for DCSF said that the department's reply on 21 March "made the point that ministers could not comment on the specific details of the employment tribunal case". Allegations
"Secondly, as is standard practice, [officials] suggested that the individual should notify the relevant inspectorate, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, to take appropriate action and they provided the necessary contact details. Ms Kemal believed recommendations made by Lord Lamming following that inquiry were still not being followed.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) confirmed it received a letter dated 16 February 2007 that arose from an employment tribunal and contained "an allegation that child protection procedures were not being followed in Haringey".
The letter was sent to the then health secretary, Patricia Hewitt. It was then forwarded on to the DCSF.
She told the BBC that correct procedures were followed.
A DCSF spokeswoman said the department's reply on 21 March "made the point that ministers could not comment on the specific details of the employment tribunal case".
"Secondly, as is standard practice, [officials] suggested that the individual should notify the relevant inspectorate, the Commission for Social Care Inspection, to take appropriate action and they provided the necessary contact details. The situation seemed to be out of control Lawrence DaviesLawyer
"The permanent secretary of the DCSF has looked at the reply and is confident that the proper procedures were followed," added the spokeswoman."The permanent secretary of the DCSF has looked at the reply and is confident that the proper procedures were followed," added the spokeswoman.
It is understood the social worker no longer works for Haringey Council and the local authority has taken out an injunction preventing her from speaking about the issue. Mr Davies said: "If the social care inspectorate had acted on it or the ministers had acted on it, it seems hard to believe that the situation in which Baby P was seen 60 times in total... presumably several times after February, couldn't have been averted."
Multiple investigations The social worker, who no longer works for Haringey Council, cannot discuss the issue as the local authority has taken out an injunction preventing her from doing so.
Baby P died in August last year after suffering 50 injuries including a broken back, fractured ribs and extensive bruising. 'Full circle'
A total of four separate inquiries have been ordered into the death, which happened despite the child being on the "at risk" register and receiving more than 60 visits from health and social work professionals and police over eight months..No-one at Haringey Council has lost their job over the case Mr Davies said his client was "pushed from pillar to post" before finally being advised to tell the inspectorate.
"We just went full circle, really.
"By that time we had an injunction against us so we couldn't go back to the inspectorate. The inspectorate had been properly advised at the time and had done nothing."
Mr Davies said he was in the process of appealing against the ban because his client possessed information that would be of interest to the government inquiry into the Baby P case.
He said: "A lot of what she has to say will be useful to the process."
He said his client was effectively calling for a public inquiry and that the letter stated the "situation seemed to be out of control".
Baby P died in August last year after suffering 50 injuries including a broken back, fractured ribs and extensive bruising.No-one at Haringey Council has lost their job over the case
A total of four separate inquiries have been ordered into the death, which happened despite the child being on the "at risk" register and receiving more than 60 visits from health and social work professionals and police over eight months.
On Thursday, Haringey Council's cabinet member for children, Liz Santry, said: "For the past 15 months in Haringey, there has been a huge amount of anguish and endless discussion about what we might have done to save this little boy.On Thursday, Haringey Council's cabinet member for children, Liz Santry, said: "For the past 15 months in Haringey, there has been a huge amount of anguish and endless discussion about what we might have done to save this little boy.
"And I have to say also that we are truly sorry that we did not do more to protect him.""And I have to say also that we are truly sorry that we did not do more to protect him."
The case happened in the same north London borough where eight-year-old Victoria Climbie was tortured to death in 2000. An official inquiry into the Victoria Climbie case by Lord Laming made a raft of recommendations for child protection procedures, and the government has now asked him to check on their implementation across England.
An official inquiry into that case by Lord Laming made a raft of recommendations for child protection procedures, and the government has now asked him to check on their implementation across England. The other inquiries are:
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  • A government investigation of the role of all agencies in the case of Baby P, including the health authority, police and Haringey Council. The review by Ofsted, the Healthcare Commission and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary is due to make an initial report by 1 December
  • An "immediate independent review" announced by Haringey Council to examine its staff's actions and child protection across the borough
  • A review by the body that regulates social workers, the General Social Care Council, to look into potential breaches of its code of practice
The other inquiries are:
  • A government investigation of the role of all agencies in the case of Baby P, including the health authority, police and Haringey Council. The review by Ofsted, the Healthcare Commission and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary is due to make an initial report by 1 December
  • An "immediate independent review" announced by Haringey Council to examine its staff's actions and child protection across the borough
  • A review by the body that regulates social workers, the General Social Care Council, to look into potential breaches of its code of practice
There have also been calls from MPs for an independent public inquiry.There have also been calls from MPs for an independent public inquiry.
No-one at Haringey Council has lost their job over the case, but children's minister Ed Balls has told the BBC: "If there are failures, then there's got to be accountability."No-one at Haringey Council has lost their job over the case, but children's minister Ed Balls has told the BBC: "If there are failures, then there's got to be accountability."
The council welcomed the government review, saying it would be "open and co-operative" with inspectors and would implement the findings "swiftly and comprehensively".The council welcomed the government review, saying it would be "open and co-operative" with inspectors and would implement the findings "swiftly and comprehensively".
It also says it moved swiftly to check and strengthen its child protection procedures after the death of Baby P, who cannot be named for legal reasons. The managers need to put policies in place but the social workers need to exercise professional judgement and act confidently and competently Marian Brandon It also says it moved swiftly to check and strengthen its child protection procedures after the death of Baby P, who cannot be named for legal reasons. FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/default.stm">More from Today programme
Marian Brandon is one of the authors of into a government-commissioned study into child death and abuse. The minister for London, Tony McNulty, said government departments would be looking again at the contents of the letter:
Ms Brandon told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that social workers could not remove every child that they had suspicions about as in many cases they would get it wrong. He told the BBC: "What I think shouldn't happen is people to look at this - as they do other things - with wonderful hindsight.
She said: "The managers need to put policies in place but the social workers need to exercise professional judgement and act confidently and competently.
"If staff are not supported, it leads to paralysis in workers. They can't work straight and they can't think straight".
After a nine-week trial at the Old Bailey, Jason Owen, 36, from Bromley, and a 32-year-old man were convicted of "causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person".After a nine-week trial at the Old Bailey, Jason Owen, 36, from Bromley, and a 32-year-old man were convicted of "causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable person".
The boy's mother had already pleaded guilty to the same charge, and all three will be sentenced on 15 December.The boy's mother had already pleaded guilty to the same charge, and all three will be sentenced on 15 December.
The mother and her 32-year-old boyfriend also cannot be named.The mother and her 32-year-old boyfriend also cannot be named.
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