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Forgot Tot
March 7, 2013 permalink
A British foster mom left her toddler on a bus by himself.
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Baby P council tot left on bus
New shame as foster carer loses child in buggy
A TOT placed in foster care by the council disgraced over the Baby P scandal was left on a BUS, it was revealed last night.
Passengers called the police after finding a carer abandoned the child — believed to be under two — in a buggy.
Last night shamed Haringey Council in North London had launched an inquiry.
The carer — paid £377 a week — was with the child on the bus last Friday afternoon, believed to be heading to hospital.
But she got off the 491 on her own, leaving the tot on the single-decker in Enfield.
After passengers raised the alarm, the child was taken to hospital for checks before being handed back to Haringey.
Last night a council spokesman said: “The child was found safe and well and we are undertaking a full investigation. Steps were immediately taken to arrange a new fostering placement for the child.”
Bus ... tot left on 491In 2007 Haringey was slammed over the death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly — Baby P — at the hands of his mum and her brutal boyfriend.
Director of child services Sharon Shoesmith was fired. Last night there were calls for fostering chief Wendy Tomlinson to resign.
TaxPayers’ Alliance boss Jonathan Isaby said: “Caring for a vulnerable child is a massive responsibility and social services must ensure that foster parents are up to this huge task.”
However, the council insisted Ms Tomlinson acted swiftly and denied allegations of a cover-up.
The spokesman added: “It would be inappropriate to pre-empt the findings of the investigation.”
It said the carer — who later contacted emergency services — did not look after any other children for the council.
David Skelton of think tank Policy Exchange said the fostering system needed urgent reform.
He added: “There are too many cases of the most vulnerable young people being let down.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “We were called after a baby was left on a bus. Inquiries are ongoing. There have been no arrests.”
Source: Sun (UK)
