Baby P chief loses sacking appeal

The former children's services chief who lost her job over the Baby P tragedy lost an appeal against her sacking today.

Sharon Shoesmith, 55, was dismissed without compensation from her senior position at Haringey Council in north London last month after a damning report into her department's failings.

She launched an attempt to overturn the decision to sack her but a panel of councillors rejected her appeal.

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Children's Secretary Ed Balls sent inspectors into Haringey Council after the trial of those responsible for 17-month-old Baby P's death.

The inspectors identified a string of "serious concerns" about the local authority's child protection services, which they described as "inadequate".

Mr Balls removed Ms Shoesmith from her post on December 1 but she remained suspended on full pay until Haringey councillors decided to dismiss her a week later.

Ms Shoesmith's appeal hearing before a panel of three Haringey councillors began on Wednesday last week and lasted three days.

A Haringey Council spokesman said today: "A panel of councillors has rejected an appeal by Sharon Shoesmith against her dismissal on December 8 2008.

"The decision was taken today by a different panel of councillors from the ones who made the original decision.

"Ms Shoesmith will not be returning to work in Haringey. She will not receive any compensation package. She will not receive any payment in lieu of notice."

Employment law experts say Ms Shoesmith could be in line for a payout of up to £173,000 if she can prove that the council was wrong to sack her.

She may now make claims against Haringey for breach of contract and unfair dismissal.

Baby P, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died in a blood-splattered cot in August 2007.

He had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and their lodger despite being on the child protection register and receiving 60 contacts with the authorities over eight months.

The trio will be sentenced at the Old Bailey in the spring.

Lynne Featherstone, the local Liberal Democrat MP in Haringey, welcomed the findings of the appeal hearing but made a fresh call for a public inquiry.

She said: "It confirms what we suspected - the responsibility for letting down Baby P goes right to the top.

"Haringey Council has a dark history of buying the silence of disgruntled employees.

"I hope this case marks a departure with this terrible practice that stifles criticism and permitted such catastrophic failure to happen.

"However, many questions still remain unanswered that only a public inquiry can answer."

Councillor Robert Gorrie, leader of the Lib-Dem opposition on Haringey Council, added: "This is the right decision. There can be no payment for failure.

"Nevertheless, I have little doubt this case will end up in an employment tribunal.

"But before it gets there, there must be no behind-the-scenes pay-off by council officials to prevent this case being heard in open tribunal."

Ms Shoesmith's solicitor is leading local government law expert Tony Child.

A spokesman for his firm, Beachcroft, declined to comment on whether she would be taking any further legal action.