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Three senior figures from Haringey Council lost their jobs today over the Baby P tragedy, including the social worker in overall charge of children's services in the borough.
Sharon Shoesmith, the £100,000-a-year director of children's services in Haringey, was pilloried after conspicuously avoiding saying sorry for the fact that her organisation failed to prevent the toddler's death.
Baby P died in August 2007 aged just 17 months after suffering horrific abuse. His mother, her boyfriend and the couple's lodger have been convicted of "causing or allowing" his death and are to be sentenced next spring.
After taking receipt of what he called a "devastating" review of Haringey's failures, Ed Balls, the Children's Secretary, said that Mrs Shoesmith was to be replaced as part of a shake-up of the Haringey management team. Although he does not have the power to fire her, he said that Haringey Council would remove her from her post.
One of the most damning findings of today's review, carried out by Ofsted, the Healthcare Commission and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary, was that Haringey had failed to implement recommendations made after the death of Victoria Climbie, the 8-year-old murdered by her guardians in 2000.
The report also prompted the resignation of two Haringey councillors, the Council leader George Meehan, and Liz Santry, cabinet member in charge of children's services.
As head of children's services, Mrs Shoesmith was said to be earning £100,000 a year and there has been much press speculation as to whether she would walk away with some kind of pay-off.
Asked about that question, Mr Balls said that Mrs Shoesmith was employed by Haringey Council. He added: "But I have to say that I think most people will look at this report, look at the clear evidence of management failure and say that this kind of failure should not be rewarded with compensations or pay-offs.
"I must say I would be astonished if elected members in Haringey chose to do that."
Mr Balls said that Mrs Shoesmith would be replaced temporarily by John Coughlan, head of children's services in Hampshire, until a permanent replacement can be found.
Mr Balls said that the inspectors had given a "damning verdict" of Haringey's management, and said all of their recommendations must be accepted by Haringey.
Mr Coughlan had already been seconded to Haringey last month to oversee children’s services in the wake of the Baby P trial.
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