Post by Libby on Feb 9, 2009 13:49:44 GMT
news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Baby-P-Scandal-Sharon-Shoesmith-Attacks-Childrens-Secretary-Ed-Balls-And-Talks-Of-Suicide-Thoughts/Article/200902115218386?lpos=UK_News_Third_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region__2&lid=ARTICLE_15218386_Baby_P_Scandal%3A_Sharon_Shoesmith_Attacks_Childrens_Secretary_Ed_Balls_And_Talks_Of_Suicide_Thoughts
The woman sacked over Baby P's death has accused a Government minister of "breathtaking recklessness" and told how she contemplated suicide over the scandal.
Ex-children's services chief Sharon Shoesmith even said Ed Balls' actions have left more children at risk.
In an interview with The Guardian, she talked of a culture of blame that has left social workers demoralised and child safety procedures compromised.
Ms Shoesmith was axed from her £110,000 job at Haringey Council after a damning report into her department's handling of the case.
The 17-month-old toddler died after suffering more than 50 injuries despite being under council supervision.
Mr Balls called the report into the borough's welfare service "a damning verdict on the current management and safeguarding in Haringey.
But Ms Shoesmith, 55, said she felt the inquiry ordered by Mr Balls had been an attempt to "discredit" her.
And she called the Ofsted report, which resulted in her departure, misleading and lacking balance.
Ms Shoesmith, who is considering court action for unfair dismissal, accepted the strength of media pressure and public anger made her position intolerable.
"I was squashed between politics and the press," she added.
But she criticised the Government for turning the toddler's horrific death into a political issue, saying it has created a recruitment crisis in Haringey.
"I was shocked at how fast it became a party political issue, both locally and nationally," she said.
"It has just been deeply reckless, breathtakingly reckless, and I don't think people really understood quite what the impact could be."
She went on to admit mishandling the press conference, and said the council should have explicitly apologised for the Baby P affair.
The woman sacked over Baby P's death has accused a Government minister of "breathtaking recklessness" and told how she contemplated suicide over the scandal.
Ex-children's services chief Sharon Shoesmith even said Ed Balls' actions have left more children at risk.
In an interview with The Guardian, she talked of a culture of blame that has left social workers demoralised and child safety procedures compromised.
Ms Shoesmith was axed from her £110,000 job at Haringey Council after a damning report into her department's handling of the case.
The 17-month-old toddler died after suffering more than 50 injuries despite being under council supervision.
Mr Balls called the report into the borough's welfare service "a damning verdict on the current management and safeguarding in Haringey.
But Ms Shoesmith, 55, said she felt the inquiry ordered by Mr Balls had been an attempt to "discredit" her.
And she called the Ofsted report, which resulted in her departure, misleading and lacking balance.
Ms Shoesmith, who is considering court action for unfair dismissal, accepted the strength of media pressure and public anger made her position intolerable.
"I was squashed between politics and the press," she added.
But she criticised the Government for turning the toddler's horrific death into a political issue, saying it has created a recruitment crisis in Haringey.
"I was shocked at how fast it became a party political issue, both locally and nationally," she said.
"It has just been deeply reckless, breathtakingly reckless, and I don't think people really understood quite what the impact could be."
She went on to admit mishandling the press conference, and said the council should have explicitly apologised for the Baby P affair.
