Baby P: Justice done?

So, after much media, political, and public pressure, the three Haringey Council officials responsible for their failure to prevent Baby P’s death have finally quit. But why did it take so long?

The council’s leader, George Meehan,  and the councillor responsible for childrens’ services, Liz Santry, both resigned their positions on the council’s executive, but both remain as elected members. Meanwhile, the director of the maligned childrens’ services department, Sharon Shoesmith, was dismissed, and several social workers who worked on Baby P’s case have been suspended.

This follows a highly critical report in the running of the department, which was ordered by Childrens’ secretary Ed Balls following the boy’s death.

The government has drafted in a new management team to help turn around the department, which is to be welcomed. But, as in many organisations, Haringey’s childrens’ services needs more than just good governance- the overall culture of the department needs to change as well. There are some things which cannot be fixed quickly….