News round-up: Ofsted chief in Haringey inspection row resigns

Ofsted chief in Haringey inspection row resigns

The man responsible for giving Haringey children’s services a clean bill of health three months after Baby P died has left his job at Ofsted.

Michael Hart has stepped down as director of children’s services at Ofsted, which is responsible for inspecting education and child protection services, to “pursue different career interests”, it was confirmed last night.

Read more on this story in The Times

Mother fatally abused boy while evading care workers

A mother conducted an “horrific” campaign of abuse against her two-month-old son, who died despite the involvement of health workers from two London boroughs.

In a case that echoes that of Baby P, Claire Biggs, 27, was found guilty yesterday of child cruelty. She had already had one child taken into care when she repeatedly crushed the chest of her son Rhys.
Read more on this story in The Times

Justice by gender

If the causes of youth crime differ for males and females, why have one-size-fits-all sentences? A pioneering scheme offers an alternative.

Read more on this story in Society Guardian

Job centres given new mission to save middle-class jobless

An overhaul of unemployment services to cope with the rapidly rising numbers of out-of-work professionals has been ordered by ministers as the jobless total hits two million.

White-collar workers visiting Jobcentres will be redirected to specialist recruitment agencies or offered new three-month college courses to refresh their skills, The Times has learnt.

Read more on this story in The Times

Drug advisory body to recommend downgrading ecstasy

The government’s drug advisory body is expected to recommend moving ecstasy from class A to class B.
Read more on this story in The Daily Telegraph