News reaches me that Sharon Shoesmith, FORMER Director of Child Services at Haringey Council, the woman who sat in the chair the buck is supposed to stop at, is now "financially ruined", "will never work again" and is "suicidal" having been thrown out of her job following the truly abominable revelations that came out of the Baby P Case.

Funny but I thought the man or woman in the top seat took responsibility. Management is all about delegating the work, delegating the authority to do the work, and having the courtesy and grace to delegate the congratulations that come your way when it goes right. But what no manager can ever do is delegate the job of taking the shit when it flies off the fan. For it was their job as managers to see it coming and be ready for it, and not step smartly aside as it flies to its target.That is why people at the top get paid the massive wads they do. Or at least that is what I was taught when it was me being groomed for that chair.

So I'm sorry Sharon, but I'm all dried up in the sympathy department right now and not least because you huddled up in the meeting with your pals the politicians furiously trying to pass the buck on this atrocity.

Cheer up though. Surely there must be someone somewhere you can call for help in your despair. Oh, hang on, that would be the people you sought to crucify for your own failings though, wouldn't it. Shame they're as hopeless as they are, but then again, if they weren't, you'd still have your job wouldn't you.

I have some hope for you though, Sharon. If you can hang on for a few short months there will be 300 more people "who will never work again" and hopefully suicidal about it. Each a former occupant of a green leather seat at SW1A 0AA. Perhaps you can all get together and launch a self-help group. Dont bother asking for public money for it though