Sacked Baby P chief ‘is retraining as counsellor’

New career: Sharon Shoesmith is thought to be studying for a master’s degree
12 April 2012

A former boss at Haringey council who was sacked over the Baby P scandal is retraining as a counsellor, it was claimed today.

Sharon Shoesmith, 57, who was head of children's services, is believed to be studying for a master's degree.

She is said to be attending college one day a week for seminars and lectures and has also been on placements to practise her skills.

Ms Shoesmith, who earned £133,000 a year at the north London council, is thought to be paying £1,500 a term for her course.

A fellow student said: "No one made the connection but she suddenly announced who she was one afternoon. The way she was talking, it was as if she were the victim in all of this, not Baby Peter." Baby P died in 2007 after social workers missed numerous signs of abuse. He had more than 40 injuries. His mother, stepfather and their lodger were jailed and Ms Shoesmith was dismissed.

Ms Shoesmith lost her appeal over her sacking at the High Court last week. She claimed she had been dismissed unfairly by Schools Secretary Ed Balls but the judge said he had acted within his rights.

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