Sacked Baby P boss seeks compensation
Updated on 07 October 2009
The child services boss who lost her job after the death of Baby Peter suffered financial and professional ruin after being unfairly sacked, a court hears.
Sharon Shoesmith, 56, was dismissed without compensation by Haringey Council in north London in December after a damning report into her department's failings.
She has brought judicial review proceedings against the council, Children's Secretary Ed Balls and regulator Ofsted at the High Court today.
James Maurici, for Ms Shoesmith, said the personal impact on his client had been considerable. She was now recovering from post traumatic shock and had experienced suicidal thoughts for the first time in her life.
Mr Balls sent Ofsted inspectors into Haringey last November after the trial of those responsible for the death of Baby P, who can now be named as Peter Connelly.
The review team identified a string of "serious concerns" about the local authority's child protection services, which they condemned as "inadequate".
Mr Balls removed Ms Shoesmith from her senior post on 1 December and Haringey formally dismissed her a week later.
She attempted to overturn the decision to sack her but a panel of councillors rejected her appeal.
In March Ms Shoesmith lodged an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal against Haringey Council and launched her judicial review application.
Her solicitor, Tony Child, from law firm Beachcroft, alleged that Ofsted's report on Haringey children's services was "unlawful" and "in total disregard of the rules of natural justice".
He also argued that Mr Balls was influenced by media pressure and went beyond his powers when he suspended Ms Shoesmith, and that Haringey Council acted "in breach of its own procedures" and failed to give her a "meaningful appeal".
Her name had not been out of the media for more than two consecutive weeks for nine months and she was unable to obtain employment and faced financial ruin.
Mr Maurici said Ms Shoesmith, contrary to press reports, had on numerous occasions said how sorry and distressed she was about Baby Peter's death and had not refused to apologise to the child's father.
He also said previous reports praised Ms Shoesmith’s leadership.
Baby Peter was just 17 months old when he died in August 2007 at the hands of his mother, Tracey Connelly, her lover, Steven Barker and their lodger, Jason Owen.
He had suffered 50 injuries despite receiving 60 visits from social workers, doctors and police over the final eight months of his life.
A series of reviews identified missed opportunities when officials could have saved the little boy's life if they had acted properly on the warning signs in front of them.
Ms Shoesmith's case at the High Court is expected to last at least three days.
