Social workers will face annual spot checks as part of sweeping changes to children’s care after the Baby P tragedy in Haringey.

Ed Balls, the Education Secretary, ordered the shake-up yesterday as a “devastating” report highlighted widespread failings surrounding the violent death of the 17-month-old boy.

Baby P had been seen 60 times by social workers, health professionals and police, but was never taken into care. He died of horrific injuries, including a broken back, after months of abuse at the hands of his mother, her boyfriend and a lodger.

Two councillors resigned from senior roles yesterday, three senior social workers were suspended and three were removed from working with children as a result of the two-week inquiry. Child protection services were condemned as inadequate and in need of “urgent and sustained attention”.

Sharon Shoesmith, the director of children’s services at Haringey, was removed from her £100,000-a-year post with immediate effect as the Government made use of draconian powers to overhaul failing local authorities. Mr Balls did not have the power to sack her outright but he said that he was removing her because he “judged she was not fit to hold an office”.

He warned Haringey council that it would be unacceptable to offer Ms Shoesmith compensation for losing her job. “This kind of failure should not be rewarded with compensation or pay-offs,” he said. The local authority swiftly announced that she had been suspended, was not returning and would receive no pay-off. She is still receiving her full salary, however.

George Meehan, the leader of Haringey council, and Liz Santry, the cabinet member for children, resigned. Cecilia Hitchen, deputy director of children and families, and Clive Preece, head of children in need, were suspended. Three social workers – Maria Ward, Sylvia Henry and Gillie Christou – are “subject to review”.

The flurry of suspensions and resignations came just weeks after Ms Shoesmith said that she had no intention of resigning and cleared her staff of any shortcomings, saying that they had “worked effectively” in the Baby P case. But a report by Ofsted, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and the Healthcare Commission ordered by the Government found fault in almost all aspects of the department’s work and gave warning that children were still at risk in Haringey.

“Overall, the inspectors’ findings are, I have to say, devastating,” Mr Balls said. “Nothing we do now can take away the terrible suffering that was inflicted on Baby P during his short life.” He said that Baby P had been subject to a child protection plan from December 22, 2006, after concerns that he had been abused and neglected. “He was still subject to this plan when he died. That is the most serious failing of all. We will not rest until we have the best child protection arrangements in Haringey and across our country.”

Ofsted, which inspects children’s social services, will conduct an annual unannounced visit from now on to every local authority in the country to try to toughen up the oversight regime. It gave Haringey’s children services a top rating last year.

Mr Balls appointed John Coughlan, head of children’s services in Hampshire, to replace Ms Shoesmith temporarily. A new director of children’s services will take over next month.

Times Recommends

• Times Christmas appeal: Letter from the Editor
• Conferences — what a waste of money
• Schools supremo learns a painful lesson