Sharon Shoesmith

Relaxed: Sharon Shoesmith enjoying the races weeks after the death of Baby P


Weeks after Baby P’s broken body was discovered, Sharon Shoesmith could be found unwinding in luxury at Ascot.

The £100,000-a-year head of children’s services at Haringey enjoyed a free corporate day out with her daughter Esther.

She picked five winners on the day and donated £25 of her £70 profit to a young musicians’ charity in the borough.

Mrs Shoesmith was at the races last year on October 13 as a guest of Willmott Dixon, one of Britain’s largest privately owned construction, housing, property care and investment companies.

It was ten weeks after Baby P was killed.

At the time of the junket, disturbing questions were already emerging about how an infant who suffered more than 50 injuries and visited by social workers on 60 occasions could be left to die in a bloodstained cot.

Shortly before the Old Bailey trial, which ended on Tuesday, Mrs Shoesmith enjoyed a family trip to America with her own children where she visited New York and Los Angeles.

And, again in the weeks after Baby P’s death, she was flown to South Africa on an all-expenses paid exchange trip on behalf of Haringey schools.

A head teacher who accompanied her on that junket said she appeared to revel in the experience and seemed trouble-free throughout.

But despite her staff failing to notice any signs of the torture inflicted on Baby P, Mrs Shoesmith refuses to yield to the growing clamour for her resignation.

And she could be in line for a £200,000 pay day amid fears she could sue if she is sacked over the scandal.

Council officials suggested she would be offered several months’ pay and a ‘gold-plated’ pension deal to avoid an expensive and potentially embarrassing legal battle.

A senior council official, who asked not to be named, said: ‘No one expects her to survive this, but she will be difficult and expensive to get rid of.’

The payout would be funded by the taxpayer.

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/child_a_-_support_offered_to_family_of_child_a.pdf

SUPPORT OFFERED TO FAMILY OF CHILD A:

From December 2006 to August 2007 there was extensive contact between agencies and the family, as well as action when the child sustained injuries.

They were seen 60 times in eight months – on average twice a week:

• the family was seen 18 times by Children and Young People Service staff, including announced and unannounced visits to their home.
• they were seen 37 times by health staff, including three visits to their home.
• they were seen five times at their home by the Family Welfare Association (now called Family Action - www.familyaction.co.uk )
• In the last month of his life, the mother took her son to health professionals eight times.

Child A was subject to a child protection plan after he was taken to hospital by his mother in December 2006 with a head injury and bruising.
Because of worries about his safety, Child A was placed with a family friend when discharged from hospital while further enquiries into the injuries were carried out by the police and health professionals.

The child protection plan also included:
- the mother attending a parenting course to give her advice and practical ways to improve her parenting skills;
- an assessment to determine the child’s development;

In June 2007, when the child suffered more bruising, measures to safeguard the child were agreed at a child protection strategy meeting, including for the same family friend to stay at the house.
A child minder looked after the child for four days a week. The child minder was asked to report any bruises/injuries on the child. The family was also helped move into a bigger house in February 2007.

The case of Baby P direct from the ones who let the killers finish him off.

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/childa

CHILDREN'S SERVICES DIRECTOR: SHARON SHOESMITH

The Children's Act 2004, brought in after the Climbie inquiry, merged education and social services departments in England's 150 local councils under the banner of children's services.

The new departments are headed by a single director with the aim of better coordination across services to stop vulnerable children from slipping through the child protection net.

Sharon Shoesmith has been director of children's services at Haringey since April 2005, with a £100million budget. She has overall responsibility for the social services department.

She was not called to give evidence at the Old Bailey but formed a key part of the serious case review.

Her position illustrates a potential flaw in the serious case review system - she is also chairman of Haringey's Local Safeguarding Children Board, which will investigate her department's conduct in the case.

Mrs Shoesmith worked for many years as a teacher and schools inspector and was previously Haringey's director of education.

This woman is a total bitch. Sorry but I cant stand to look at her!

BTW I noticed you are a Sharon S too!

This bitch should be sacked immediately and her pension taken away....she as good as signed this poor mite death certificate.

Ambersuz wrote:This woman is a total bitch. Sorry but I cant stand to look at her!

BTW I noticed you are a Sharon S too!

purely coincidence. I care about children. She doesnt

7:23am UK, Saturday February 07, 2009
The children's services chief sacked over the Baby P scandal has attacked Government minister Ed Balls - accusing him of "breathtaking recklessness".

Sharon Shoesmith blames the Children's Secretary for fuelling a blame culture that has left social workers demoralised and put child safety procedures at risk.

She made the comments in her first interview since she was axed from her £110,000 job at Haringey Council after a damning report into her department's handling of the case.

The 17-month-old toddler died after suffering more than 50 injuries despite being under council supervision.

Mr Balls called the report into the borough's welfare service "a damning verdict on the current management and safeguarding in Haringey".

Attacks Government

7:23am UK, Saturday February 07, 2009
The children's services chief sacked over the Baby P scandal has attacked Government minister Ed Balls - accusing him of "breathtaking recklessness".

Sharon Shoesmith and Baby P

Shoesmith sacked over gruesome death of Baby P

Sharon Shoesmith blames the Children's Secretary for fuelling a blame culture that has left social workers demoralised and put child safety procedures at risk.

She made the comments in her first interview since she was axed from her £110,000 job at Haringey Council after a damning report into her department's handling of the case.

The 17-month-old toddler died after suffering more than 50 injuries despite being under council supervision.

Mr Balls called the report into the borough's welfare service "a damning verdict on the current management and safeguarding in Haringey".

Sharon Shoesmith: 'It Has Been Deeply Reckless'

But Ms Shoesmith, 55, told The Guardian she felt the inquiry ordered by Mr Balls had been an attempt to "discredit" her.

She says the Ofsted report, which resulted in her departure, was misleading and lacked balance.

Ms Shoesmith, who is considering court action for unfair dismissal, accepts that the strength of media pressure and public anger made her position intolerable.

"I was squashed between politics and the press," she added.

But she criticised the Government for turning the toddler's horrific death into a political issue, saying there is now a recruitment crisis in Haringey.

"I was shocked at how fast it became a party political issue, both locally and nationally," she said.

"It has just been deeply reckless, breathtakingly reckless, and I don't think people really understood quite what the impact could be."

She admits she mishandled the press conference, and says the council should have explicitly said they were sorry over the Baby P affair.

Mr Balls has issued a statement saying he made no apology for his actions which were "absolutely necessary to make sure children in that borough are properly protected."

He added: "When things go wrong it is vital that we act. And that is why I sent in the independent children's services, police and health inspectors to investigate the situation in Haringey.

"Their report was devastating and revealed serious failures in the management of Haringey children's services.

"I believe that every community, evey parent and every social worker would expect me to put the safety of children first."

I have no sympathy for this woman. She was head of the department which failed this child and she carries the can. That's how it is. Apparently she has not apologised for her inability to run an efficient department and seems to blame others. I have worked in Social Services and know that at her level, she is the one who should be able to hold her own with councillors and government departments. If she cannot do that then she will not be able to support her staff from the pressure, or fight for the services she knows the clients need. That is what her job was all about, and she was paid a handsome salary to do that, not just sit behind a desk and be a figurehead.
They said on sky news this morning that she had contemplated suicide. Well, if I had been in charge of a social work team who failed Baby P as disgracefully as this, I would have been unable to live with myself.

justagrannynow wrote:I have no sympathy for this woman. She was head of the department which failed this child and she carries the can. That's how it is. Apparently she has not apologised for her inability to run an efficient department and seems to blame others. I have worked in Social Services and know that at her level, she is the one who should be able to hold her own with councillors and government departments. If she cannot do that then she will not be able to support her staff from the pressure, or fight for the services she knows the clients need. That is what her job was all about, and she was paid a handsome salary to do that, not just sit behind a desk and be a figurehead.
They said on sky news this morning that she had contemplated suicide. Well, if I had been in charge of a social work team who failed Baby P as disgracefully as this, I would have been unable to live with myself.

Very well said Granny. I couldnt agree more.

Its all "me, me, me" with this woman, how its affected "her", all about "her" suffering etc.
WTF about that innocent babe and HIS suffering?????? Not a word of genuine remorse, regret or empathy do I detect in her interview. Zilch.

Erin wrote:Its all "me, me, me" with this woman, how its affected "her", all about "her" suffering etc.
WTF about that innocent babe and HIS suffering?????? Not a word of genuine remorse, regret or empathy do I detect in her interview. Zilch.

She has got to be related to Kate McCann!

I dont believe for one minute she was thinking of taking her own life, she does not care for anyone else but her self.

She needs a hanging. A Sunday is a good day for it

[quote="Jennifer"]She needs a hanging. A Sunday is a good day for it [/quote

Has this woman no shame ,in court today claiming unfair dismissal.Everybodies fault but hers,well i'm sorry but the buck stopped with her.

just heard it on the 5 o'clock news

halfamo wrote:Has this woman no shame ,in court today claiming unfair dismissal.Everybodies fault but hers,well i'm sorry but the buck stopped with her.

But it doesnt stop with her does it ?

What was Ofstead's role in this fiasco, what role do politicians play ?

Dont get me wrong, Sharon Shoosmith is typical of most senior managers in the public services, under qualified, thick as two short planks, a complete lack of common sense and morals, and with a blatent disregard to the public that they serve. The problem is someone puts them there, and they reward them for their behaviour.

She was a convinient scapegoat, and as much as it gives me pleasure to think that she's reaping the rewards she deserves, I actually think that she's right to take the action she's taking, if it exposes those above her who bear the real responsibility. I remember saying on 3A's on the day the news broke that she'd sue for constructive dismisal and that she'd probably win. Lets face it, one minute her managers are showering her in glory and proclaiming from the rooftops what a great job she's doing, and the next firing her to cover their own arses.

This whole episode needs a public enquiry, and it needs heads to roll, all the way up to ministerial level.

Hare wrote:

halfamo wrote:Has this woman no shame ,in court today claiming unfair dismissal.Everybodies fault but hers,well i'm sorry but the buck stopped with her.

But it doesnt stop with her does it ?

What was Ofstead's role in this fiasco, what role do politicians play ?

Dont get me wrong, Sharon Shoosmith is typical of most senior managers in the public services, under qualified, thick as two short planks, a complete lack of common sense and morals, and with a blatent disregard to the public that they serve. The problem is someone puts them there, and they reward them for their behaviour.

She was a convinient scapegoat, and as much as it gives me pleasure to think that she's reaping the rewards she deserves, I actually think that she's right to take the action she's taking, if it exposes those above her who bear the real responsibility. I remember saying on 3A's on the day the news broke that she'd sue for constructive dismisal and that she'd probably win. Lets face it, one minute her managers are showering her in glory and proclaiming from the rooftops what a great job she's doing, and the next firing her to cover their own arses.

This whole episode needs a public enquiry, and it needs heads to roll, all the way up to ministerial level.

Yes i agree someone put her there ,and yes the whole thing should be looked at ,.and further heads should roll,but she was at ground level and as such should have and could have made a difference.She was more interested in reaching targets than keeping a eye out for what was happening .

Shes nothing but a MONEY GRABBING BITCH.....wanting money....she couldnt give a toss about children as long as she gets her BIG payout.



SHE STILL DOESNT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILTY AND IN THE PROCESS WANTS £300,000.



HOPE YOU CHOKE ON YOUR TURKEY, DEAR.


BABY PETER NEVER EVEN TASTED TURKEY, HE WAS NEVER FED, HE ATE DIRT.


IF I HAD MY WAY ID MAKE YOU EAT DIRT!

The lying, lazy, neglecting bitch may get 1m payout.


1m for NOT stopping the death off Baby Peter.


NICE WORK IF YOU CAN F*****G GET IT, BITCH.


It is said she may get this payout because the file was made to look WORSE (doctered), ...WTF can you get any worse that what happened to peter...tortured, mutilated, abused, neglected, broken ribs, torn ear lobe, teeth knocked down his throat, finger tips cut off, starved...SHE. THIS MORON CALLED SHARON SMITH ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN BY IGNORING HIS PLIGHT.