29/10/2013

Shoesmith Settlement Payment Agreed

A settlement payment over the dismissal of a child protection officer following the Baby P case could reach up to £600,000, according to reports.

Sharon Shoesmith was removed from her position as Haringey councils director of children's services by Ed Balls, then children's secretary, following a damning report into the death of Baby P.

She was then subsequently fired by Haringey Council in December 2008 when an Ofsted report found her department failed to protect 17-month-old Peter Connelly.

It is understood that an unfair dismissal case brought by Shoesmith has now reached a settlement agreement, which the Guardian has reported could be worth up to £600,000.

The actual settlement offer has not been revealed.

Haringey Council are understood to be paying the majority of the settlement payment, with central government contributing some part of it.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Mr Balls, now the shadow chancellor, said: "An independent report said there were disastrous failings in Haringey children's services.

"They said the management was at fault. Sharon Shoesmith was the director of children's services and so of course it leaves a bad taste in the mouth that the person who was leading that department and responsible ends up walking away with, it seems, a large amount of money."

(MH/CD)

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