A CHILDREN'S services boss who was suspended in the aftermath of the murder of a toddler has launched a counter attack against a town hall chief.
Jill Baker was in charge of the department at Salford when two-year-old Demi Leigh Mahon was beaten to death by her babysitter.
Now the M.E.N. can reveal she is scheduled to face a disciplinary hearing at the end of next month. But on the day it starts the panel will first consider a formal grievance by Mrs Baker against the council's chief executive Barbara Spicer, who took the decision to suspend her.
Mrs Baker's grievance was initially dismissed but she has appealed and the same panel of councillors who will hear her disciplinary case will first hear her complaint against Ms Spicer.
The M.E.N understands that at her disciplinary hearing Mrs Baker will face about half a dozen allegations regarding her leadership and management. One of those is that she told the media that no one was to be disciplined after the death of Demi Leigh.
The disciplinary hearing - scheduled to last for three days - will be chaired by former council leader, Bill Hinds.
Mrs Baker was offered a lump sum plus her pension to resign but refused.
This year an independent review of the Demi Leigh case criticised Mrs Baker's department.
The M.E.N. revealed how social workers had been warned 12 times by police, neighbours, and the child's grandmother of the toddler's chaotic lifestyle. She was being raised by her mother in a drugs den.
Demi Leigh died in July 2008 after being subjected to a sustained attack by babysitter Karl McCluney, who was convicted of her murder in July this year. The child had been left with him by her mother while she went to cash her child benefit.
A serious case review found her death was 'unavoidable' but contained a number of criticisms of children's services.
Mrs Baker has been suspended on full pay from her £105,000 a year job for six weeks.
Her department has been hit by controversy for two years. In an Ofsted report published in September it was revealed that government officers were unable to establish whether five children were being properly monitored.
The report highlighted nine areas for improvement in front-line social work regarding the referral and assessment of children at risk of abuse.
A damning Ofsted report in 2008 criticised the council's protection of vulnerable children. It ordered the council to take urgent action over 'inadequate' support for children at risk of neglect.
In May this year the M.E.N reported how the officer in charge of the city's council-run homes had been suspended after three homes were deemed to be inadequate.
A council spokesman said: "It would not be appropriate to comment on an on going procedure."
Showing comments 1 to 11 and replies | View All
Voter (29/10/2009 at 09:29)
"Mrs Baker was offered a lump sum plus her pension to resign but refused."
Then later:
"Mrs Baker has been suspended on full pay from her £105,000 a year job for six weeks."
Do all humble council workers have this privilege of being offered money by the council?
Mamaduke, Broad Street (29/10/2009 at 09:32)
j John (29/10/2009 at 09:43)
How can a little child's death be unavoidable when they all knew about it and did nothing?
thaitanium (29/10/2009 at 11:01)
Sam Anderson (29/10/2009 at 11:01)
Angie33 , Manchester (29/10/2009 at 11:14)
stalyvegasblue (29/10/2009 at 12:16)
Absolutely not!
It may be 33 yrs but it will never be 37yrs. (29/10/2009 at 12:17)
There is a to much of it is not my fault culture running through these type of agencies like Sharon Shoesmith of Haringay council and the baby P case she didn’t except responsibility for what happened to Baby P. At the end of the day they are responsible and excuses that their insubordinates were responsible doesn’t wash and quite rightly they should be sacked and without a fantastic pension, it seems people like this are rewarded for failure.
Knowall, stretford end (29/10/2009 at 12:34)
On the council side, offering a lump sum and pension to go, ties up all the lose ends nicely, plus a great defence for Ms Baker, if she had done wrong they would not offer the carrot therefore this kangeroo court will come up some verdict which will end up being appealed in the high court and in the end will most likely cost me and other council tax payers in Salford a few million, the only winners will be the lawyers. All because we have parents who have the state wipping their backsides for them and the parents will not take on their own responsibilities. This girl was unemployed she had all the time in the world to look after this child. Excuse picking up child benefit then off to the pub.
steak, Manchester (30/10/2009 at 00:03)
sugar n spice, manchester (01/11/2009 at 02:00)