R (on the application of Shoesmith) v Ofsted and others [2011] EWCA Civ 642, [2011] All ER (D) 293 (May)
The fact that the Children Act 2004, in creating the singular post of director of children’s services (DCS), identified as a matter of policy one individual with ultimate responsibility and accountability in relation to children’s services did not mean that that person was to be denied the protections that had long been accorded to responsible and accountable office-holders. Nor did the fact that the secretary of state was not the employer of a DCS relieve him of the obligation to be fair.
