Cumbria Social Services did not tell police they had been tipped off about the appalling abuse of a Carlisle toddler 15 months before her parents were arrested.

The chair of the newly created Care Quality Commission (CQC) has spoken of her fear that the recession could undermine service standards.

A campaign has been launched to recruit thousands of professionals to work in child social care. Introduced by the Local Government Association (LGA), the campaign highlights the concerns of council leaders following the case of Baby P and the likelihood of child abuse cases being missed as a result of people leaving the care profession.

Council bosses in Doncaster were warned four years ago that their actions were putting children’s lives at risk. The council, which last year had double the national average number of children on its protection register, is currently under investigation following the deaths of seven children in the area.

Services for vulnerable children in England deteriorated last year and remain the weakest area of councils’ work, the Audit Commission has said.

On-the-spot checks for childcare and assessments for a much wider range of services are to be introduced next month in an attempt to make public sector inspections more rigorous.

AN Ollerton care home has received the lowest possible score after a series of recent inspections found staff were not correctly qualified to work.

Child protection managers should spend less time in offices and more time supporting overworked social workers on the frontline, the children’s secretary Ed Balls said today.

A NORTH Yorkshire care home is under investigation this week following allegations against two members of staff.

Campaigners fighting controversial plans to open a home for troubled teenage boys in Portishead are to meet Ofsted chiefs this week.