Social workers who failed to save the life of Baby P are being investigated by their professional regulator over possible breaches of their code of practice, it was announced today.

The 17-month-old boy died in a blood-spattered cot in August last year despite 60 visits from the authorities over eight months, during which time he suffered more than 50 injuries.

Ed Balls, the Children’s Secretary, yesterday ordered an urgent inquiry by Ofsted, the Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Healthcare Commission into child welfare services provided by Haringey Council in north London, the same local authority heavily criticised over the death of Victoria Climbie eight years ago.

Today the General Social Care Council (GSCC) said that it too was conducting “preliminary inquiries”, into the actions of individual social workers involved in the case.

All social workers must register with the GSCC and can be held to account if they breach its professional code of practice.

Rosie Varley, the regulator’s chairman, said: “We are deeply saddened by this case and we are conducting our own preliminary inquiries to establish whether the circumstances have any bearing on the suitability of individual social workers to remain on the register.

“All registered social workers are required to meet the highest standards of care and abide by our code of practice, to which they are held accountable.”

She said the case of Baby P underlined the need for “high quality support and training” for social workers to help reduce the risk of similar tragedies.

“We would like to strengthen the system of ongoing training and think there needs to be a debate about the potential advantage of introducing a compulsory requirement for social workers to undertake post-qualifying training,” she said.

The 32-year-old boyfriend of Baby P’s mother and the couple's lodger, Jason Owen, 36, were convicted at the Old Bailey on Tuesday of causing or allowing his death. The child’s mother had already pleaded guilty to the same allegation, which carries a maximum 14-year jail term.

All three have been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on December 15.

It has been claimed that Baby P’s mother believes she will be home for Christmas, with the other two feeling little remorse.

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