26 March 2012
Lessons from Baby P case to be explored at Social Work seminar
Lessons learned from the tragic case of baby Peter Connelly in Haringey will be highlighted at a seminar at the University of Dundee next week.
Professor Graham Badman, who was sent in to Haringey by the Government after the death of Peter, and Sarah Peel, who was formerly Business Manager for Haringey Local Safeguarding Children Board will deliver a presentation at the seminar, hosted by the School of Education, Social Work and Community Education.
Taking place at the Dalhousie Building on Monday, 2nd April, 'Haringey: From Victoria to Peter and Beyond' will explore how Haringey Council transformed itself into a model of best practice following Peter's death. The North London borough was also where Victoria Climbie had been killed seven years earlier, and the seminar will also look at why recommendations made in Lord Laming's inquiry into that case were not implemented.
Professor Badman and Ms Peel's experiences mean they are able to provide unique insights into the handling of the case and explore what went wrong in Haringey. They will also explain how performance, standards and morale have been raised over the last four years.
In conversation with Social Work staff at the University, they will discuss the lessons that can be learned for all professionals working with children.
Alyson Leslie, from the University, investigates the deaths of children across the UK and worked with Professor Badman in the aftermath of Peter's death. She said the seminar would examine the background to the tragic events and explore how Haringey had since achieved profound shift in inter-agency practice and performance.
"The entire culture of Haringey Council had to change as a result of the death of Peter Connelly, as questions were asked why lessons had not been learned from the earlier death of Victoria Climbie," she said.
"Graham Badman has a distinguished reputation in Children's Services and has played a key role in driving that change. He was brought in to review what had gone wrong and to start to rebuild public confidence in child protection services in Haringey. A recent Government inspection into Haringey's multi-agency child safeguarding strategy has confirmed that process is well underway.
"Sarah Peel played a pivotal role in exploring how the key lessons from the Haringey child care tragedies can be learned and used to change policy, process and practice. Together they will discuss the findings which emerged from the deaths of Victoria Climbie and Peter Connelly which are still relevant to child protection professionals everywhere."
'Haringey: From Victoria to Peter and Beyond' takes place in Lecture Theatre 3 in the Dalhousie Building from 1.45 to 3.45pm on Monday, 2nd April. Academics and practitioners from across Scotland will be in attendance, as will social work, education, community development and nursing students from the University.
A few places remain available for the seminar and tickets, costing £10, can be obtained through the University's online store at www.buyat.dundee.ac.uk
More information is available at www.dundee.ac.uk/eswce/news/2012/haringey.htm.
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
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