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| Baby death case worker reinstated | Baby death case worker reinstated |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A social worker struck off for showing "extremely poor judgement" in dealing with a case in which a 13-month-old boy was later murdered has won her appeal. | A social worker struck off for showing "extremely poor judgement" in dealing with a case in which a 13-month-old boy was later murdered has won her appeal. |
| Eleni Cordingley will be offered her job back by Swansea council, which Aaron Gilbert's father Gareth called "absolutely ridiculous." | |
| She admitted an error of judgement, but the Care Standards Tribunal said there was no evidence this led to his death. | |
| Aaron was badly beaten by his mother's boyfriend, who was jailed for 24 years. | |
| Swansea Crown Court heard that Aaron was "treated like a punchbag" by Andrew Lloyd. | |
| The boy's mother, Rebecca Lewis, was found guilty of familial homicide and jailed for six years after the jury heard she failed to prevent her son's killing. | The boy's mother, Rebecca Lewis, was found guilty of familial homicide and jailed for six years after the jury heard she failed to prevent her son's killing. |
| In January, Mrs Cordingley was struck off after a Care Council for Wales hearing was told she had not immediately referred his case to the council's child assessment team following two anonymous calls expressing concern about his family from the same person. | In January, Mrs Cordingley was struck off after a Care Council for Wales hearing was told she had not immediately referred his case to the council's child assessment team following two anonymous calls expressing concern about his family from the same person. |
| The committee ruled she was guilty of misconduct by putting Aaron "at risk" and had exercised "extremely poor judgement." | The committee ruled she was guilty of misconduct by putting Aaron "at risk" and had exercised "extremely poor judgement." |
| The Care Standards Tribunal ruling states: Since the Maria Caldwell case in the 1980s a number of child deaths have generated expensive enquiries looking at how agencies can do better to protect children from murder by their parents and carers. Through cases such as Kimberley Carlisle and Tyra Henry through the Victoria Climbie case to Baby Peter society has tried to understand how the deaths occurred to prevent future deaths. Alongside this has grown a culture of blame not toward those who perpetrate the crimes but toward the professionals doing their best to protect children. Yet despite the increased levels of hysteria homicide rates have remained relatively consistent over the years. People will continue to kill children despite, not because of, the efforts of professionals. No system can prevent desperate, inadequate or depraved people abusing their children.Source: Tribunal ruling | The Care Standards Tribunal ruling states: Since the Maria Caldwell case in the 1980s a number of child deaths have generated expensive enquiries looking at how agencies can do better to protect children from murder by their parents and carers. Through cases such as Kimberley Carlisle and Tyra Henry through the Victoria Climbie case to Baby Peter society has tried to understand how the deaths occurred to prevent future deaths. Alongside this has grown a culture of blame not toward those who perpetrate the crimes but toward the professionals doing their best to protect children. Yet despite the increased levels of hysteria homicide rates have remained relatively consistent over the years. People will continue to kill children despite, not because of, the efforts of professionals. No system can prevent desperate, inadequate or depraved people abusing their children.Source: Tribunal ruling |
| Mrs Cordingley appealed against the decision at a two-day tribunal hearing. | |
| It has now published its ruling and said Aaron's murder would not have been prevented if she had referred his case immediately to the assessment team. | It has now published its ruling and said Aaron's murder would not have been prevented if she had referred his case immediately to the assessment team. |
| It noted Mrs Cordingley accepted from the outset that not only did she make a professional misjudgement but that this amounted to misconduct. | It noted Mrs Cordingley accepted from the outset that not only did she make a professional misjudgement but that this amounted to misconduct. |
| "There is equally no doubt in our mind that she suffers huge remorse," it added. | "There is equally no doubt in our mind that she suffers huge remorse," it added. |
| "She blames herself for Aaron's death. It has affected her health and her family life. | "She blames herself for Aaron's death. It has affected her health and her family life. |
| "She has suffered vilification in the press and ill informed public opprobrium. | "She has suffered vilification in the press and ill informed public opprobrium. |
| "Yet she still lives in Swansea and wishes to continue working in social work. This shows great moral courage and is enormously to her credit. | "Yet she still lives in Swansea and wishes to continue working in social work. This shows great moral courage and is enormously to her credit. |
| "We do not consider that Mrs Cordingley's honest but wrong decision fell into the category of decisions that required the ultimate sanction. | "We do not consider that Mrs Cordingley's honest but wrong decision fell into the category of decisions that required the ultimate sanction. |
| "Ridiculous decision" | "Ridiculous decision" |
| "Our powers are limited to either allowing the appeal or dismissing it. We have no hesitation in allowing it. Mrs Cordingley has been punished enough." | "Our powers are limited to either allowing the appeal or dismissing it. We have no hesitation in allowing it. Mrs Cordingley has been punished enough." |
| Aaron's father, Gareth Gilbert, said: "She was proven guilty of misconduct, and basically she's been given a slap on the wrist". | |
| Swansea council said in view of the judgement of the Appeal Tribunal it would offer Mrs Cordingley re-employment as a social worker with the authority. | Swansea council said in view of the judgement of the Appeal Tribunal it would offer Mrs Cordingley re-employment as a social worker with the authority. |
| "The death of Aaron Gilbert in May, 2005, was a terrible tragedy and Swansea council is very sorry that it happened," a spokesman for the council said in a statement. | "The death of Aaron Gilbert in May, 2005, was a terrible tragedy and Swansea council is very sorry that it happened," a spokesman for the council said in a statement. |
| "As the Care Standards Appeal Tribunal has said, the only people responsible for Aaron's death are Andrew Lloyd and Aaron's mother, Rebecca Lewis. | "As the Care Standards Appeal Tribunal has said, the only people responsible for Aaron's death are Andrew Lloyd and Aaron's mother, Rebecca Lewis. |
| "It is now more than four years since the tragic death of Aaron Gilbert. Since that time policies, practices and procedures within Child and Family Services have changed immensely. | "It is now more than four years since the tragic death of Aaron Gilbert. Since that time policies, practices and procedures within Child and Family Services have changed immensely. |
| "Swansea council has learned lessons and continues to learn." | "Swansea council has learned lessons and continues to learn." |