High case loads for each social worker were also leading to unacceptable delays. About 400 initial assessments had exceeded statutory time limits and a further 85 core assessments had taken longer than the 35 days set down as a target in law.

Formal supervision of frontline social workers also continued to be weak, despite this being highlighted as a big problem last year.

Councillor Claire Kober, leader of Haringey Council, accepted the findings of the report and said that there was still some way to go to improve the safety of vulnerable children in the borough.

“As everyone knows, there were fundamental problems with our safeguarding service and other issues, such as a backlog of cases, have come to light and decisive action has been taken in recent months,” she said.

“We have a major staff recruitment drive under way and we remain committed to doing all we can to keep children in Haringey safe. Regular monitoring by the inspectorates will give us the opportunity to identify where more needs to be done.”

Seen but not spotted

During the period March 1, 2006, to August 3, 2007, a number of health professionals had numerous contacts with Baby P, including:

6 visits by Baby P to an acute hospital (excluding his birth and death). Of these, two were to the North Middlesex University Hospital A&E department, one was to the Whittington Hospital paediatric emergency clinic and three were outpatient appointments (one for paediatric assessment and two for X-rays)

14 visits to the GP practice

1 visit to the specialist child health service, where a consultant paediatrician saw Baby P two days before his death

5 visits by a health visitor in which Baby P was seen at home

6 visits to the child health clinic

2 visits to walk-in centres

1 contact specifically with the midwife

9 attendances by Baby P’s mother at Mellow Parenting sessions, of which five were with Baby P

16 contacts between Baby P’s mother and the primary mental health worker

Source: Care Quality Commission