Former Haringey children’s services director Sharon Shoesmith has backed two social workers who believe they were unfairly sacked for their involvement in Baby Peter’s death.

Gillie Christou and Maria Ward launched an appeal against their dismissal by Haringey Council in April 2009 for gross misconduct.

Ms Ward was Peter’s social worker from February 2007 until his death on August 3 that year and Mrs Christou was Ms Ward’s team manager.

The appeal could find that the council acted unreasonably when firing the pair for serious failings in their care of the 17-month-old toddler.

The former social workers have already faced an employment tribunal in 2010 which found that they were fairly sacked by the council.

Both women were sacked following an investigation which uncovered there was a period in the month before his death when they did not know where the young boy was.

Ms Ward also failed to see Peter at least once a fortnight, as required.

The ex Haringey childrens’ services director Mrs Shoesmith won an appeal in May against her dismissal by the council, after her lawyers argued the procedures used when she was sacked were unfair.

The former Children’s Secretary Ed Balls had called for Haringey Council to dismiss the former children’s director for the failings in her department.

Baby Peter had suffered more than 50 injuries over an eight-month period, despite being on the council's "at-risk" register.

The toddler had a broken spine, eight fractured ribs, a broken back and was missing the tips of his fingers and toes when he was found dead in a property in Penshurst Road, Tottenham.

Peter's mother, Tracey Connelly, her boyfriend, Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen were all convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child.

The preliminary case is due to be held in Watford in April, with a full hearing before the end of the year.