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Three lose jobs over Baby P case Three lose jobs over Baby P case
(about 1 hour later)
Three people have lost their jobs after a "damning" independent inspectors' report into the Baby P case, Children's Secretary Ed Balls has said. Three people have lost their jobs after a "damning and devastating" inspectors' report into the Baby P case, Children's Secretary Ed Balls has said.
Sharon Shoesmith, the head of children's services at Haringey Council, has been sacked.Sharon Shoesmith, the head of children's services at Haringey Council, has been sacked.
The council's leader George Meehan and the cabinet member for children and young people, Liz Santry have resigned.The council's leader George Meehan and the cabinet member for children and young people, Liz Santry have resigned.
Mr Balls told a press conference that the findings of the inquiry into the case were "devastating". The 17-month-old died despite being on the child protection register. He had been visited by professionals 60 times.
'Serious concerns'
The 17-month-old baby was on the child protection register and had been visited by professionals 60 times.
The boy's mother, her boyfriend and a lodger have been jailed over his death.The boy's mother, her boyfriend and a lodger have been jailed over his death.
Mr Balls said there were "clear failings in procedure and management" uncovered by the report. Overall the inquiry's findings, are, I have to say, devastating Children's Secretary Ed Balls class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7758891.stm">Reaction to Baby P investigation
He said: "There are a number of serious concerns in regard of the safeguarding of children and young people in Haringey." Mr Balls said: "Overall the inquiry's findings, are, I have to say, devastating."
Overall the inquiry's findings, are, I have to say, devastating Children's Secretary Ed Balls He said the report delivered a "damning verdict on the current management of safeguarding in Haringey".
The catalogue of failures included not identifying those at immediate risk of harm, poor gathering and sharing of information, and insufficient management oversight, he added. One of the factors that was most troubling, Mr Balls added, was the "failure to talk directly to children at risk".
But one of the factors most troubling, he added, was the "failure to talk directly to children at risk". The key failings highlighted include:
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  • Agencies acting in isolation from one another without effective co-ordination
  • Poor gathering, recording and sharing of information
  • Insufficient supervision by senior management
"Overall the inquiry's findings, are, I have to say, devastating." Action to be taken includes:
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  • A new serious case review to be undertaken into the death of Baby P, with an executive summary to be published by the end of March
  • Education watchdog Ofsted to carry out unannounced annual inspections of children's services across the country
  • More action to be taken at those authorities in England which have had "inadequate" serious case reviews, to see if they have made improvements.
Mr Balls announced that new leadership would be introduced at the council. Mr Balls announced that new leadership would be introduced in Haringey's social services, with Hampshire County Council's John Coughlan replacing Ms Shoesmith with immediate effect.
Broken ribs He described Mr Coughlan as "one of the most experienced directors of children's services in the country".
Mr Balls said there had been a failure to talk to children at risk
He added that if he was not satisfied that there was significant progress in improving the department he would not hesitate to step in again.He added that if he was not satisfied that there was significant progress in improving the department he would not hesitate to step in again.
The roles of the health service, social workers and the police were looked into by the report. Following the report's publication, the chief inspector of Ofsted - one of the agencies involved in the report - said the findings were "very worrying".
Christine Gilbert told BBC News: "You had very committed hard-working people working in different services, social care, health police and so on but working in parallel not really talking well enough to one another."
The report looked into the roles of health service, social workers and the police in the case.
Mr Balls ordered the investigation two weeks ago, after saying it was clear mistakes had been made and that those responsible would be held accountable.Mr Balls ordered the investigation two weeks ago, after saying it was clear mistakes had been made and that those responsible would be held accountable.
The inspectors have been examining why the toddler was not taken into care despite numerous injuries including broken ribs and eventually a broken back.The inspectors have been examining why the toddler was not taken into care despite numerous injuries including broken ribs and eventually a broken back.