This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7732193.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
Official wanted Baby P with carer Case worker wanted Baby P in care
(about 2 hours later)
Social services in Haringey, north London, were split over how to protect Baby P, who died following months of abuse, the BBC's Panorama has learned. A senior social worker and police did not want Baby P returned to the home where he later died from months of abuse, the BBC's Panorama has learned.
It found a key social worker and police did not want Baby P to go back to his mother - one of three people later convicted of causing his death. It found social worker Sylvia Henry wanted him to go into foster care after he was taken to hospital in December 2006 with non-accidental injuries.
Sylvia Henry, the senior social worker in the case, had wanted Baby P to go to a foster carer and found a placement. But her bosses at Haringey, in north London, decided Baby P should be looked after by family or friends.
But her bosses decided he should be looked after by family or friends. Baby P's mother and two men are to be sentenced for causing his death.
'Over-reacting' 'Rough play'
This was as detailed in the Children's Act 1989. The matter of Baby P's care arose after doctors at Whittington Hospital found he had non-accidental injuries.
The child was placed in the care of Angela Godfrey, a friend of his mother, after doctors found he had non-accidental injuries in December 2006. He was subsequently placed in the care of Angela Godfrey, a friend of his mother.
In her witness statement, Ms Henry said she had been "very reluctant" to let Baby P be looked after by Ms Godfrey. But Ms Henry, the senior social worker in the case, had wanted Baby P to be taken into care and had found him a foster placement.
"My impression of Angela was that she believed the local authority were over-reacting," the statement detailed. She said she had been "very reluctant" to let Baby P be looked after by Ms Godfrey, but she was bound by the Children's Act 1989 to explore placement options with family and friends.
Ms Henry also revealed Ms Godfrey asked for "a large sum of money" for looking after the child, and continually pressed for his return home. Baby P suffered no injuries whilst in her care. In a witness statement given to the police and seen by the programme, Ms Henry said: "My impression of Angela was that she believed the local authority were over-reacting and that the explanation for Baby P's injuries were those of his mother's, that they were caused by rough play and by his head-banging."
The programme reveals how officials debated Baby P's fate [Pic: Mirrorpix]
She also revealed Ms Godfrey asked for "a large sum of money, possibly £320 per week" to look after the child, and continually pressed for his return home.
Baby P suffered no injuries while in Ms Godfrey's care.
The boy was put on the child protection register and a police investigation began.The boy was put on the child protection register and a police investigation began.
But with no new evidence to support a prosecution, services manager Clive Preece instructed that the boy should go back home.But with no new evidence to support a prosecution, services manager Clive Preece instructed that the boy should go back home.
However, Ms Henry had delayed this because police had expressed a similar opinion to her own, that the child should remain "out of the care of his mother".The programme reveals how officials debated Baby P's fate [Pic: Mirrorpix] However, Ms Henry said she had delayed this because police had expressed a similar opinion to her own, that the child should remain "out of the care of his mother".
In a statement Haringey Social Services said: "Mr Preece did not overrule concerns of social workers. In a statement, Haringey Social Services said: "Mr Preece did not overrule concerns of social workers.
"No concerns were raised regarding placement with Angela Godfrey at the time of the placement.""No concerns were raised regarding placement with Angela Godfrey at the time of the placement."
Baby P was admitted to the North Middlesex Hospital in June 2007, and a confidential police report seen by Panorama reveals police and social services had a serious disagreement over the boy not being taken into care. The programme also learned that police and social services had a serious disagreement over the care of Baby P after he was admitted to North Middlesex Hospital in June 2007 with more non-accidental injuries.
But police eventually agreed to sign up to a care plan that meant Baby P was yet again returned home. A confidential police report said a "frank exchange of views" had taken place.
Despite the disagreement, police eventually agreed to sign up to a care plan that meant Baby P was returned home once again.
Climbie echoesClimbie echoes
In response to this claim, Haringey said that rigorous discussion was expected between professionals when dealing with child protection, and that police had agreed to the final plans for Baby P. In response to notes made in the police report, Haringey said rigorous discussion was expected between professionals when dealing with child protection, and that police had agreed to the final plans for Baby P.
The confidential police document goes on to criticise social workers for being too optimistic about the mother and not focused enough on the child.The confidential police document goes on to criticise social workers for being too optimistic about the mother and not focused enough on the child.
Haringey said police did not express such views during discussions, and that some of these have been formed "with the benefit of hindsight".Haringey said police did not express such views during discussions, and that some of these have been formed "with the benefit of hindsight".
Sources have told the programme that police were never told about Baby P being admitted previously to North Middlesex Hospital in April 2006. Programme makers also found detail missing from the police document, in particular Baby P's admission to hospital in April 2007 for a large swelling to his head.
However, the duty social worker was alerted after the boy went to hospital with a large swelling to his head. Sources told Panorama police were never told about the visit at the time, meaning the Metropolitan Police's child protection team was missing vital detail.
Haringey said it did not inform police because child protection issues were not flagged up by the hospital, and it followed procedures. Haringey said it did not inform police because child protection issues were not flagged up by the hospital, and it had followed procedures.
Baby P died on 3 August 2007, the day after his mother was told she would not be prosecuted for his injuries.Baby P died on 3 August 2007, the day after his mother was told she would not be prosecuted for his injuries.
His case has echoes of that of Victoria Climbie, who was murdered in Haringey in 2000 - the council was criticised for failing to protect her.His case has echoes of that of Victoria Climbie, who was murdered in Haringey in 2000 - the council was criticised for failing to protect her.
An official inquiry, headed by Lord Laming, into her death found the eight-year-old had been let down by several agencies.An official inquiry, headed by Lord Laming, into her death found the eight-year-old had been let down by several agencies.
The government has asked him to conduct a national review to see if his recommendations, stemming from her case, are being put into practice.The government has asked him to conduct a national review to see if his recommendations, stemming from her case, are being put into practice.
Panorama: What Happened to Baby P? will be broadcast on BBC One at 2030 GMT on Monday 17 NovemberPanorama: What Happened to Baby P? will be broadcast on BBC One at 2030 GMT on Monday 17 November