Climbie report 'supports social worker'

Eight-year-old Victoria was tortured to death

The father of the social worker sacked over the death of abuse victim Victoria Climbie has said she could be helped by the public inquiry into the affair.

Welcoming Lord Laming's report John Arthurworrey said his daughter, Lisa, was too ill to speak for herself and had suffered a nervous breakdown since losing her job.

He said the findings offered "a chink of light" to his daughter, who has appealed against her dismissal for gross misconduct by Haringey Council.

Eight-year-old Victoria was starved and beaten to death at the hands of her aunt Marie-Therese Kouao and her boyfriend Carl Manning.

If she can see that (the report) I believe that will help to mend my daughter,

John Arthurworrey

Ms Arthurworrey was the key social worker involved with Victoria and visited her home prior to her death in February 2000.

Lord Laming's report said Ms Arthurworrey had been "badly let down" by managers at Haringey Council.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday, Mr Arthurworrey said the inquiry showed up the "many serious failings" on the part of the council.

Comfort

He said the council "left Lisa on her own", putting her on a child protection register after her dismissal.

"My daughter loves children, she has never had any problem with children.

"She is placed on the same list as child molesters, paedophiles.

"While she is on that list she can't get a job at all."

He said the peer's words in his inquiry report would hopefully give his daughter some comfort.

"If she can see that [the report] I believe that will help to mend my daughter," he said.

'Poor condition'

The social worker has suffered a breakdown herself since the case and lives as a "recluse", spending hours in her room in the dark, said Mr Arthurworrey.

"She is in a very poor condition, both physically and mentally," he told the programme, adding that her weight had dropped from eight or nine stone to six.

Mr Arthurworrey said his daughter accepts some responsibility for Victoria's death, but that her managers and the council should also have accepted some blame.

"Her managers had some sort of accountability as well.

Lord Laming's findings have been welcomed by the Arthurworrey family

"They and the whole of Haringey just shied away from that responsibility and left Lisa on her own," he said.

Lord Laming's findings may be used to challenge the decision to place Ms Arthurworrey on the child protection list.

Mr Arthurworrey said his daughter had not worked since losing her job at Haringey.

"Lisa's life will never be the same. The picture of the horrendous way that child died will always be with her," he told Today.

She shies away from watching news reports and has become "very difficult to deal with" he said.

Mr Arthurworrey said he hoped that in time the findings could help his daughter recover.