Balls orders all councils to review child protection arrangements » Local Government » 24dash.com

Tougher inspection regimes for child protection services across the country have been introduced to avoid a repeat of failings exposed by the Baby P tragedy.

Children's Secretary Ed Balls yesterday ordered every local authority in England to review its arrangements for safeguarding children in the light of a damning report about Haringey Council.

He also announced that Ofsted would now carry out an unannounced inspection of child protection practice in every area of the country each year.

Ofsted warned that many councils were failing to learn lessons from the most serious incidents of child abuse because their internal investigations were inadequate.

Inspectors were sent into Haringey in north London last month after the trial of those responsible for 17-month-old Baby P's brutal death.

Their report led to two senior councillors resigning, three managers being suspended and three social workers being taken off child protection duties.

There was anger today that Haringey's director of children's services, Sharon Shoesmith, remained on full pay despite being removed from her post by the Government.

Mr Balls said he would be "astonished" if Ms Shoesmith received any pay-off or compensation for losing her job, but stressed that this was a decision for the council to make.

Local Liberal Democrat MP Lynne Featherstone added: "Not a single penny of taxpayers' money should be used to pay off any senior staff or to buy their silence.

"They either resign or are sacked using normal procedures - there can be no third option or special perks for failure."

The council's chief executive, Dr Ita O'Donovan, said Ms Shoesmith would not receive a compensation package or return to her post.

"We have to follow the employment law of this country," Dr O'Donovan said.

"That is what we are doing. It will be brought to as speedy a conclusion as possible."

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

In a 16-page report handed to ministers yesterday, they condemned everything from poor record-keeping to a failure to identify children at immediate risk of harm.

Haringey Council's leader, George Meehan, and Cabinet member for children and young people Liz Santry resigned.

Mr Balls used his powers to remove Ms Shoesmith and replace her with John Coughlan, currently Hampshire County Council's director of children's services.

Haringey Council also suspended Cecilia Hitchen, deputy director of children's services, and Clive Preece, head of children in need and safeguarding services.

Three other social workers involved in the Baby P case - Gillie Christou, Maria Ward and Sylvia Henry - were taken off child protection duties pending further investigation.

Mr Balls said the report delivered a "damning verdict" on Haringey's current management of safeguarding children.

He went on: "Overall the inspectors' findings are, I have to say, devastating.

"Their report sets out detailed recommendations, all of which must now be accepted in full. Having studied their report, I've decided to take immediate action.

"My first priority is to put in place a new leadership and management team in Haringey children's services to ensure that vulnerable children in the borough are properly protected."

Mr Balls also ordered a fresh Serious Case Review into Baby P's death after Ofsted inspectors judged the one carried out by Haringey "inadequate".

Haringey is the same council which was severely criticised for failing to prevent the murder of eight-year-old Victoria Climbie in 2000.

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

He had suffered more than 50 injuries at the hands of his abusive mother, 27, her boyfriend, 32, and their lodger, Jason Owen, 36, despite 60 contacts with the authorities over eight months.

The trio have been convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child and will be sentenced at the Old Bailey next spring.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, condemned the decision to suspend Ms Shoesmith on full pay - reported to be £100,000 a year.

He said: "It's unacceptable that, despite the damning official report showing repeated and serious failings in the Baby P case, Sharon Shoesmith is still raking in taxpayers' money.

"It has already taken far too long to get any action on these horrendous failings.

"Ms Shoesmith and her colleagues must not be kept lingering around on costly gardening leave - justice should be swift."