Care chief who failed to protect Sara Sharif handed OBE | United Kingdom | News

The Prime Minister said there were “questions that needed to be answered” over the murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, as it emerged council leaders in charge of social services were awarded an OBE during the king’s birthday this year.

Sir Keir Starmer demanded action after Sara’s father and stepmother were found guilty of her murder after subjecting the child to a series of horrific abuse.

The tragic girl was known to social services throughout her life and her father had previously been the subject of abuse allegations, but at least 15 crucial opportunities to save her life were missed.

The prime minister, a father of two, described the matter as “horrible”, saying: “My first response is a human response. This is simply a horrible case. It’s very difficult to see, to read, for a lot of people who will watch, it’s just shocking.

“Obviously there will be questions that need to be answered.”

An independent review of Surrey County Council’s serious case was launched as it emerged that in the weeks before her death Sara had been tied up, beaten with a cricket bat, burned with an iron and even bitten.

She suffered multiple injuries before being found dead at her home in Woking in September, with multiple fractures in 25 places in her body.

Asked if the Government would ban child spanking in its Child Welfare Bill after killer father Urfan Sharif claimed he “lawfully punished his daughter”, Sir Keir replied that This matter had nothing to do with spanking.

“It’s about violence. This is abuse. This is to ensure that [there are] protecting the safeguards of children, especially those who are homeschooled,” he said.

The Prime Minister’s intervention came as pressure mounted on the council leader and social services manager whose team failed to protect the helpless child from being beaten to death after they both received the OBE in the King’s Birthday Honors List 2024.

Calls have been made for children’s services manager Rachael Wardell to return her recently acquired gong as she struggles to keep her lucrative taxpayer-funded job.

The demands come after thousands of parents signed a petition earlier this year calling for Wardell’s honor to be removed amid another controversy over alleged social service failures under his watch.

Wardell heads Surrey County Council’s children’s services department who knew 10-year-old Sara was in danger in March 2023 when her school reported bruising on her face.

Social workers launched an investigation but closed it six days later, finding a lack of evidence.

A few days later, Sharif pulled Sara out of school and four months later, she was brutally murdered. Despite the case progressing through the courts, Wardell was recognized for her services to child welfare in the King’s Birthday Honors List earlier this year.

Speaking after the gong was presented, Surrey County Council’s acting chief executive, Michael Coughlin, said: “His exceptional leadership and dedication to public service throughout his career has been unwavering.

“Rachael has played a vital role in children’s lives across several councils, including in Surrey. »

On Wednesday, an Old Bailey jury found Sharif, 42, and Sara’s mother-in-law Beinash Batool, 30, guilty of murder.

Surrey Police said Sara suffered “indescribable violence” and “brutal abuse” at the hands of the twisted duo. His uncle Faisal Malik, who lived in the house, was convicted of causing or permitting the death of a child.

Medical specialists and pathologists who examined little Sara’s body found evidence of approximately 100 separate internal and external injuries, including head trauma, multiple fractures and numerous bruises and scars. There were also burn marks, notably on one of the girl’s buttocks, intentionally inflicted with an iron, as well as traces of human bites.

After receiving her award, Wardell, who would earn around £149,000 for her leadership role, said: “I was happy and humbled to be honored in this way. As with any type of public service, each of the achievements or successes attributed to me is in reality the work of dozens, even hundreds of people, mobilized in the interest of children and their families. I am therefore grateful to all the teams I have had the privilege of working with over the years, whose skills and strengths are reflected in this recognition.

Wardell has served as Executive Director of Children, Families and Lifelong Learning at Surrey County Council since 2020 and is currently also Vice President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS). In addition, she is also the Executive Director and Patron of Surrey County Council’s internal network for ethnically diverse staff.

She has worked in the public sector for 30 years and was previously Director of Children’s Services in the London Borough of Merton, as well as Director of Children’s Services and Director of Adult Social Services at West Berkshire Council. She also held positions in Wokingham. Borough Council and Ofsted.

The authority claimed that during his four years on Surrey County Council, Wardell “led to significant improvement in children’s services” and spent “as much time as possible meeting with children, families, schools and staff to hear their experiences and shape services in their best interests.” and results at the heart.

Joanna Killian, chief executive of the Local Government Association and former chief executive of Surrey County Council, said: “Rachael has always been totally focused on providing the best for the children in her care and Surrey is fortunate to have such a strong and competent director. child services.

Earlier this year, furious parents demanded Rachael Wardell return her OBE after she warned the “lives of children and families are at stake” due to the repeated “failings” of Surrey County Council (SCC) regarding special services for children.

Local authorities are legally required to carry out education, health and care (EHC) assessments for children with special needs and have a legal duty to provide special educational services.

But they claim the authority has repeatedly failed in its duty and a petition from almost 2,000 people has been submitted demanding Wardell return his OBE.

Parents who took part in a protest outside the council’s headquarters said authorities had “flouted the law” and acted “criminally” by failing to provide health insurance plans for many children with special needs. special.

They said the council had rejected its legal duty to support children with SEND and argued the Honor Award had sent a “devastating message” to families who downplayed their struggles and legal battles.

Mum Susanne Stonewood, a single mother, paid more than £12,000 in legal fees to fight for her son’s EHCP after waiting 44 weeks above the legal 20-week deadline, said: ‘We believe it is inappropriate for Rachael Wardell to receive an OBE and she should return it.

Councilor Joanne Sexton said parents and carers in her borough were “appalled that Surrey has received an honor in the King’s Birthday Honors List”.