Baby P official in sacking appeal

Sharon Shoesmith's department was heavily criticised in the Baby P case

The ex-head of children's services at the council at the centre of the Baby P case is appealing against her sacking.

Sharon Shoesmith was dismissed from Haringey Council last month after a damning initial report into her department's role in Baby P's death.

The 17-month-old, who was on the council's "at-risk" register, died in 2007 after a series of major injuries.

A spokesman for Haringey Council in north London confirmed Ms Shoesmith was appealing against her dismissal.

Following the report, Ms Shoesmith was dismissed with immediate effect and the council said she would not be receiving any compensation or pay in lieu of notice.

Removed from post

Children's Secretary Ed Balls had removed Ms Shoesmith from her post on 1 December but she remained on full pay while the council considered her case.

Baby P's mother admitted in court to causing or allowing the boy's death. Her boyfriend and Jason Owen, 36, were convicted of the same offence. They are due to be sentenced later this year.

The toddler had suffered more than 50 injuries by the time of his death.

This was despite being in contact with officials, doctors and police 60 times in the eight months before he died.

Rightly outraged

After the convictions, Ms Shoesmith said she was satisfied that her department had acted appropriately.

However, inspectors sent into Haringey after the trial of those responsible for the baby's death identified a string of "serious concerns" about the area's child protection services which they described as "inadequate".

A Haringey Council spokesman said Ms Shoesmith had a statutory right to appeal against that decision.

But Robert Gorrie, leader of Haringey's Liberal Democrat opposition, said local residents would be "rightly outraged" if the council agreed to a large pay-off.

"We have said from the outset that those responsible for this tragedy should be held to account and that there should be no rewards for failure," he added.

Two other senior Haringey officers - Cecilia Hitchen, deputy director of children's services, and Clive Preece, head of children in need and safeguarding services - remain suspended while an internal investigation is carried out.

Two social workers involved in the Baby P case - Gillie Christou and Maria Ward - have had their social work registration temporarily suspended.