Byfield social workers to keep jobs

Two social workers criticised in the Toni-Ann Byfield case will
not lose their jobs, Birmingham Council concluded this week, writes
Natalie Valios. 

The seven-year old girl was shot dead in a London hostel in
September 2003 along with convicted drug dealer Bertram Byfield,
who was believed to be her biological father.

At the time she was in the care of Birmingham social services
department.

A serious case review published in May criticised a social
worker for failing to make inquiries with the police or Brent
social services about Byfield, which would have revealed the extent
of his criminal activity.

In a statement the council said both members of staff had been
through formal personnel procedures, performance monitoring and
extensive supervision.

“We are very confident about this decision and wouldn’t expose
children to risk. At the time of the tragedy we said we weren’t in
the business of finding scapegoats”, it said.

The team manager remains in children’s services but the social
worker has been moved to adult services. The statement went on to
admit that as the department failed yet again to be awarded a
one-star rating it is not serving children well.