Baby P council makes 'inadequate' progress
Baby P council makes 'inadequate' progress
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By James Christie. |  |
Friday, 03, Jul 2009 04:45
A report into Haringey council, the borough where Baby P died, states 'insufficient' attention has been paid to improving its provision of care.
An Ofsted study into the north London council, where 17-month-old Baby Peter died after suffering more than 50 injuries during an eight-month period in which he was seen several times by social workers, stated "limited" progress had been made in improving safeguarding provision.
"There are insufficient numbers of competent staff and managers, both within key parts of the social care service and the wider partnership," the report states.
"Insufficient attention was given to improving frontline services after the existing backlog of cases was cleared and the extent of the deficiencies in the management and the delivery of frontline services became apparent."
Haringey council has made "good" progress in clearing its backlog of cases and has provided "satisfactory" support for front-line workers.
But a lack of competent staff and managers means young people in the borough are yet to be "consistently safeguarded".
Children's secretary Ed Balls commissioned the report in a bid to radically overhaul child protection services in Haringey, after a public outcry over the death of Baby P.
Lynne Featherstone, Lib Dem MP for Hornsey and Wood Green in Haringey, commented: "If there are concerns about the progress then there have to be question marks about the measures the government has taken so far.
"If children are at risk they have to consider the last resort, which is effectively taking the department into special measures. I just don't think you can leave it and see. If it doesn't get sorted now, it's going to get worse."
Baby P's 27-year-old mother was given an indefinite sentence with a minimum term of five years at the Old Bailey in May, having pleaded guilty to causing or allowing her son's death.
Her boyfriend, 32, was handed a 12-year sentence for his role in Baby P's death and was also jailed for life with a minimum ten-year term having been convicted of the rape of a two-year-old girl.
Sharon Shoesmith was sacked as head of child services in Haringey after a "damning" report into her department, while three council managers and a social worker were also dismissed.