I am not usually a fan of the Daily Mail but Eileen Fairweather has written a brilliant story every social worker should read.
It has direct relevance for social workers because the scapegoating of Detective Chief Inspector Philip Wheeler parallels that of social worker Lisa Arthurworrey.
In January 10th 2002, Detective Chief Inspector Philip Wheeler had just started giving evidence to Lord Laming’s inquiry into the murder of Victoria Climbie whenhe was physically attcked and went off sick.
Eileen Fairweather writes
“Wheeler had been based at North West London Police Murder Squad at the time of the eight-year-old’s death in 2000. He had been describing to the inquiry a report he wrote warning his superiors that child protection locally was not being properly supervised.
“Wheeler was signed off work. During his enforced break from giving evidence to the inquiry, colleagues made him the scapegoat for police failings. He says he was ‘framed’ when, in fact, he was the officer who rang alarm bells.
“It is only now, ten years later – his health and career ruined – that he has been able to clear his name.”
Roger Kline says
“The parallels with Lisa Arthurworrey are all to clear to those who have followed her case. Both cases should shame those who have colluded with the disagraceful treatment of colleagues to the detriment of the public interest”.
More on Lisa’s case in the near future
