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The team manager criticised in evidence to the Victoria Climbie Inquiry for her management style denied claims earlier this week that she had only held one supervision session with Victoria's allocated social worker during a three-month period.

Carole Baptiste, who was Lisa Arthurworrey's acting team manager from the time Victoria's case was allocated until she was replaced by Angella Mairs three months later, insisted that formal supervision sessions had taken place every two to three weeks. She also rejected allegations that she had used supervision sessions to discuss personal issues, including her religious beliefs and her experiences as a black woman.

Baptiste failed to answer a previous summons to attend the inquiry and in December was charged with breaching an inquiry summons. Having pleaded not guilty, she now faces trial in February.

In her witness statement, provided six months late to the inquiry, Baptiste said Arthurworrey was "not sufficiently analytical", "not always diligent in providing feedback following her assessments", "not particularly strong at speaking with the children" and lacked insight.

However, counsel to inquiry Neil Garnham QC said this was "entirely inconsistent" with Baptiste's own assessment of Arthurworrey during her personal development review.

"You are simply blaming Miss Arthurworrey now, despite the fact that you thought she was competent at the time, in order to deflect criticism from you," said Garnham.

In response to criticism of her ability to manage effectively, Baptiste blamed Haringey Council for failing to promote her professional development, and criticised her line manager Dave Duncan for failing to address concerns around her practice.

But she accepts that she had been made aware by Arthurworrey that a doctor had continuing concerns about the child. "I ought to have looked at Victoria's case file more thoroughly," she says in her statement. "In hindsight, it would have been helpful for me to have spoken to Dr Rossiter and get some idea of how to co-ordinate all the medical issues."

In a personal note to Victoria's parents at the end of her statement, Baptiste added: "Please forgive me if you have felt that I have frustrated or hindered the inquiry. Because I am a parent I understand only too well that answers are needed and therefore I have tried to be as honest as I can in helping you to understand my role. I regret that Victoria's voice was not heard and nobody will fully understand the pain that she suffered. I can only hope that the contribution that I have subsequently made will help to prevent another child's death."

Laming sets out phase two structure

Lord Laming has announced that phase two of the Victoria Climbie inquiry will be made up of two parts, and the issues and questions to be addressed will be published in a paper shortly.

The first part will be an open invitation for people who want to respond to send in a written submission to the inquiry, and responses deemed relevant by Laming will then be treated as evidence and circulated.

The second part will take the form of a series of day seminars, which will be chaired by Neil Garnham, QC for the inquiry, and observed by Laming and his team of assessors. Between 12 and 20 people will be invited to participate in each seminar, which will take place in public between mid-March and the end of April.

Inquiry abandoned after witness assault

The Victoria Climbie inquiry had to be abandoned for the day last week after a senior policeman giving evidence had black ink thrown over him. He was taken to hospital after some of the ink went into his eye.

Detective chief inspector Philip Wheeler was describing his involvement in the child protection team responsible for investigating Victoria's case.

He told the inquiry that his heavy workload prevented him from properly managing the team, because of the way his role was organised.

A woman was due to appear before magistrates this week in connection with the ink incident. She is charged with assault, criminal damage and possession of cannabis.

Later the inquiry heard evidence from Wheeler's line manager, detective superintendent Sue Akers, who said that although she had confidence in Wheeler and retained this confidence throughout 1999, she was disappointed to discover that he did not visit the child protection teams as much as she had thought.

- For regularly updated reports of the Victoria Climbie inquiry go to www.community-care.co.uk