Haringey sacks chief of children's services

The head of children's services at Haringey Council has been sacked and will not receive any compensation in light of the Baby P case, the local authority announced yesterday. Sharon Shoesmith's role attracted widespread criticism after a damning report from government inspectors lambasted the management of child protection services at Haringey.

"Sharon Shoesmith has been dismissed from Haringey Council with immediate effect," the council said in a statement according to media reports.

"The decision was taken today by a panel of councillors. She will not receive any compensation package. She will not receive any payment in lieu of notice."

Baby P died in August last year after suffering more than 40 injuries during a campaign of abuse at his home, despite being on Haringey's "at risk" register and having had 60 visits from care workers.

The 17-month-old toddler's 27-year-old mother, her 32-year-old boyfriend and lodger Jason Owen, 36, will be sentenced next year for causing or allowing the child's death.

Ms Shoesmith initially defended her department, saying they had provided the family with "extensive help" and blamed his mother for misleading officials.

But in the following days it emerged there had been repeated warning signs that the baby was being abused and that the council had taken the decision to return him to his mother despite the concerns of police.

In the wake of an independent review ordered by the government, two senior councillors resigned while Ms Shoesmith and six other council employees were suspended.

Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats had said it would be wrong for any of those involved in the Baby P case to be paid while on suspension, or to receive a pay-off should they be sacked.

They said the council should have been more aware than most local authorities of child protection issues following the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie by her guardians in 2000.