Note: this is an updated post from October 2015. This latest post includes some additional recommended reading.
Sharon Shoesmith found herself scapegoated and hunted following the death of Peter Connelly in Haringey, the authority in which she worked as head of children’s services at the time.
Recommend viewing
Youtube of various keynote addresses held as part of the Annual Safeguarding Conference provided by Bucks New University in June 2015.
The presentations explore the challenges of inter-professional working and communication in safeguarding practice across both adults and children’s safeguarding and includes a presentation by Sharon Shoesmith.
Good listening
BBC Radio 4 (May 2016) The Blame Game
Related publications
Community Care (2014) Sir Keir Starmer warns against ‘witch hunting’ blame culture in social work
Community Care (2016) ‘I know what it’s like to struggle and want to quit – that’s why I founded iamsocialwork’
The Scotsman (2014) Culture of blame only adds to risk
The Guardian (2014) Social work needs positive news stories – why are they so hard to tell?
Twitter storyboard
Such an interesting lecture of Sharon Shoesmith who was the head Social Worker of Baby P, I’ve seen another side of the story…
— Cici (@MissLuciasc) January 29, 2016
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Dr Sharon Shoesmith speaks bravely about learning from Baby P and the politics of blame #iamsocialwork #iamacademia pic.twitter.com/TwFKhXSbDF
— Robert Templeton (@wellstreets) February 3, 2016
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I’m bringing back Sharon Shoesmith & @juliawarrener – &this wk @ProfDavidShem @richardpantlin @ruthallenonline join the line up iam.academia
— Zoë (@iamsocialwork) February 6, 2016
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Inspirational and challenging talk from Sharon Shoesmith yesterday about culture of blame and social work. #StandUp4SW
— YouthAdvocacyProject (@YAPAdvocacy) February 5, 2016
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Sharon Shoesmith on learning from Baby P case @UoYMRC. Tuesday 8th March. Politics of blame, fear and denial https://t.co/9hGrq1pK90
— SPSW (@spsw) February 5, 2016
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Sharon Shoesmith seminar left us thinking how can we better engage with the public to change the perception of social work?
— Lead Practitioners (@B_HLeadPracs) February 4, 2016
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Full house for Dr Sharon Shoesmith’s seminar on Understanding and Challenging Cultures of Blame for B&H SWs.
— Lead Practitioners (@B_HLeadPracs) February 4, 2016
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New book by Sharon Shoesmith publishing via JKP in August 2016 #socialwork #iamacademia
— Stephen Jones (@Steve_JKPbooks) February 3, 2016
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Need for social workers to engage with public to improve knowledge & understanding says Sharon Shoesmith #iamacademia
— Jo Moriarty (@Aspirantdiva) February 3, 2016
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Sharon Shoesmith presenting to room full of social workers, Ed Balls on tv making buns!
— Marie Hatton (@marieinshrops) February 3, 2016
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Sharon Shoesmith highlighting some of the political motivations behind policies going back to days of Maria Colwell #iamacademia
— Jo Moriarty (@Aspirantdiva) February 3, 2016
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Finally starting to read this and already i am saying omg🙈!! #babyp #socialwork #sharonshoesmith #childprotection pic.twitter.com/WHzxO9gDV1
— Isha (@Ishyd2015) January 5, 2016
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‘The cultural trope’ & need to create a new discourse #socialwork by Sharon Shoesmith 👍 https://t.co/Y7L5hLjBg7
— Sharon Martin (@SharonLMartin1) October 10, 2015
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Well quite. I made this point some time ago: http://t.co/Hfy9kZXm6mhttp://t.co/rRVV7CBkSs
— Diarmid Weir (@diarmidweir) October 2, 2015
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For those interested in children safeguarding, social workers and Sharon Shoesmith, this is worth a watch http://t.co/uxLzgVEHKX
— Malcolm Underhill (@pisolicitor) September 23, 2015
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@justwontliedown Sharon Shoesmith speaking at the @BASW_Cymru conference. Cardiff 10th June 2015 #CSWstandup @BASW_UK pic.twitter.com/jm97pEh6B0
— Alex Clapson ツ (@AlexClapson) June 11, 2015
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Notes from Sharon Shoesmith’s presentation on blame & accountability in #socialwork now follow #CSWstandup
— BASW Cymru (@BASW_Cymru) June 11, 2015
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Prof Ray Jones – No one was there to support Sharon Shoesmith because the political fallout from the Baby P story was so toxic #CSWstandup
— BASW Cymru (@BASW_Cymru) June 10, 2015
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Sharon Shoesmith urges social workers to speak up about the quality of their daily work at @BuckSafeguardin pic.twitter.com/QV00zQBB6A
— Bucks New University (@bucksnewuni) June 9, 2015
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Inspirational Sharon Shoesmith talks about her journey and creating a positive culture in child protection work. @BuckSafeguardin
— justine rooke (@justinerooke) June 9, 2015
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Today’s @SSWNetwork seminar with @ProfSueWhite & Sharon Shoesmith was a fabulous event. You can get a flavour here #relationalcp
— StepUpSalford (@StepUpSalford) June 5, 2015
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Sharon Shoesmith’s talk was chilling but her resilience & strength certainly provides SWs w/plenty to think about. https://t.co/8f9d4UBDog
— Jadwiga Leigh (@jt_leigh) June 5, 2015
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Dignified moving and extremely thoughtful presentatiion from Sharon Shoesmith @ @SalfordUniSW: .@SSWNetwork @ProfSueWhite #relationalcp
— Susan White (@ProfSueWhite) June 5, 2015
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Amazing strength and integrity of Sharon Shoesmith. Fantastic talk @SalfordUniSW @SSWNetwork #relationalcp
— Liz Wall (@BettyWall88) June 5, 2015
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#relationalcp @SSWNetwork Sharon Shoesmith advises against anger and for understanding of what happened and why.
— SalfordUniSocialWork (@SalfordUniSW) June 5, 2015
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The SW profession can’t defend itself the way Police do. It has been shot to pieces by media #blameCulture #SharonShoesmith #RelationalCP
— Corinne L Delargy (@Corinne_Lisa) June 5, 2015
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#relationalcp Sharon Shoesmith contrasts approaches to errors by police, medical profession with those of social work
— SalfordUniSocialWork (@SalfordUniSW) June 5, 2015
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Sharon Shoesmith talking about cultural tropes #relationalCP – social workers cannot always predict and prevent death pic.twitter.com/9wU5Y9AiFo
— Corinne L Delargy (@Corinne_Lisa) June 5, 2015
niromp.org 