Children are being put at risk because social workers are overloaded by impossible targets and red tape, a report commissioned following the death of Baby P is expected to report this week.

Dozens of social services departments across the country have been covering up serious failures, an independent review into the death of Baby P will warn.

Say the words “social worker” and a harassed-looking woman carrying a bouquet of dog-eared files and a handbag full of tissues and Nurofen comes to mind.

Cumbria’s top judge has demanded answers from social services after a little girl was found living in a squalid drug den.

Social services directors have warned of major problems with a planned new, single local authority and health service complaints procedure. The new system is due to come into effect on April 1st but the Association of Directors of Social Services fears there could be delays and confusion.

A MERSEYSIDE care home was at the centre of a police probe today following allegations dementia sufferers were mistreated. Four members of staff at Windy Knowe Nursing Home were arrested last week on suspicion of “wilful neglect”.

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.

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

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.