Synopses & Reviews
In 2007, Peter Connelly, a 17-month-old boy living in north London, died as a result of sustained neglect and abuse. Fifteen months later, his mother, her boyfriend, and her boyfriends brother were sent to prison for his death, but the mediawho called Connelly Baby P”turned their attention toward the health and social workers who had been attending to him and his injuries during the eight months prior to his death.
The Story of Baby P goes in depth into what really happened with Connellys care and examines the damaging consequences that the medias treatment of his case has had on those who work to protect children.
Even today the health and social workers who treated Connelly are aggressively pursued by the press. Ray Jones uses this fact to tell a larger story of blame and the medias role in it, moving from a direct account of the details surrounding Connellys death to a look at how the media shifted attention to child services and its failings. He then examines the impact the case and its exposure had on the child protection system in England. The most comprehensive account of Connellys unjust death and its ramifications, The Story of Baby P is essential reading for anyone concerned with social services and the real effects of public scandals on the people and organizations caught up in them.
Review
“Jones is a courageous—and all too lonely—voice taking on the tabloids distortions of child protection services. His forensic indictment of media coverage of the Baby P case reinforces the need for a robust and independent press regulator.”
Review
“Jones has written an engaging and important book. He provides a detailed critical analysis of the case of 'Baby P' and its impact and the key role of the media in this.”
Review
“This book demonstrates the very rare combination of policy, practice, and academic experience which Ray Jones brings. It deserves to be read by anyone with an interest in contemporary social welfare and its future.”
Review
"Jones's important new book shows how the powerful work against social work and the vulnerable."
Review
“Its biggest contribution is the insight into how the powerful—including the current Prime Minister—were able to ride rough-shod over a profession with little regard for the consequences.”
Review
“An important tale of the troubling intersections between the media and political interests that converge in the highly volatile field of child protection.”
Review
“A thoughtful and though provoking book. . . . A riveting ‘must read’ for any professional working in Children’s Services, and also for those working in partner agencies.”
Synopsis
This is a comprehensive look at the events leading up to the death of Baby P. A recent investigation has found that there was poor communication between authorities, a repeated failure to take into account the child's history and inaccurate documentation of events by Haringey Council. Child protection plans were heavily criticized in the inspection report for being disorganized with little analysis of the child and no clear decision-making. With the three perpetrators awaiting sentencing and politicians debating what can be done now and in the future, the public are left angry and bewildered as just how this was allowed to happen.
Synopsis
In England in 2007 Peter Connelly, a 17 month old little boy - known initially in the media reporting as 'Baby P' - died following terrible neglect and abuse. Fifteen months later, his mother, her boyfriend and the boyfriend's brother were sent to prison. But media attention turned on those who worked to protect children who became the focus of the reporting and of the blame, especially the social workers and their managers. Five years later they are still harassed by press reporters. This book tells what happened to 'Baby P', how the story was told and became focused on the social workers, its threatening consequences for those who work to protect children, and its considerable impact on the child protection system in England. This is the first book to draw together all evidence available on this high profile case and will make a unique and crucial contribution to the topic. It will make essential reading for everyone who is concerned about child protection and the care of children and about the media's impact.
About the Author
Ray Jones is professor of social work at Kingston University and St Georges, University of London.
Patrick Butler is the editor of society, health, and education policy at the
Guardian.
Table of Contents
Foreword ~ Patrick Butler
The life and death of Peter Connelly
The 'Baby P story' takes hold
The frenzied media backlash
The influence of reviews and reports
The story's damaging Impact
The continuing legacy of the 'Baby P