Demand for toddler death inquiry
Children's Minister Beverley Hughes has demanded more investigations at the local authority responsible for the care of a toddler who died in spite of 60 visits by health and social care workers.
Ms Hughes said further examination was needed of the senior management levels of Haringey Council in north London to see if anyone should take responsibility for the death of the 17-month-old boy.
The toddler, who was on the child protection register, died in a blood-spattered cot in August last year after spending much of his short life being used as a punchbag.
Social workers, police and health professionals failed to save him despite 60 visits over eight months, during which he suffered more than 50 injuries.
Ms Hughes said she believed the chief executive of Haringey and councillors needed to look at whether anyone at a higher level should be held accountable for the death.
"I think the council has a responsibility, it is an elected body, it has the responsibility to ask itself the question, in the light of this case, whether there is an accountability at another level in the management of this case," she told GMTV.
Ms Hughes's remarks come after the chairwoman of Haringey Local Safeguarding Children Board revealed on Tuesday that just three people have received formal written warnings over the death of the 17-month-old.
Sharon Shoesmith said two social workers and a lawyer had received the warnings.
But she said there would be no resignations or sackings over the affair and made a robust defence of the actions of social services.
