The failings of social workers at Haringey Council have again been exposed in a criminal trial.

The local authority, which is still reeling from the criticism it received after its failing in the Baby P case, confirmed the two-year-old rape victim was known to social workers and was on its “at risk” register.

Officials at the North London borough said last night that a Serious Case Review was under way into how the girl could have been raped while in their care.

The case of Baby P, who died of his injuries despite 60 visits from social workers and other professionals, led to sweeping changes at the council. Sharon Shoesmith, the former director of children’s services, was dismissed without compensation.

Four more people were dismissed from the social services department this week. Cecilia Hitchen, deputy director of children and families, Gillie Christou, a team manager, Maria Ward, a social worker, and Clive Preece, head of safeguarding services, all lost their jobs. Ms Hitchen was dismissed for “loss of trust and confidence”. The others were dismissed for gross misconduct. But after this review, more staff may lose their jobs, adding to an already severe recruitment crisis.

Morale has been so low this year and staff shortages so great that Haringey has appealed to all London councils to lend social workers.

Claire Kober, leader of the council, said: “We have accepted that things went badly wrong with our child protection in 2007. We live every day with the knowledge that more could have been done and apologise again to everyone affected. We are committed to putting things right.”

The Serious Case Review into the care the child received from social workers is being conducted by Graham Badman, chair of the Haringey Local Safeguarding Children Board.

But Lynne Featherstone, Liberal Democrat MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said that more questions about the performance of the council needed to be answered. “We desperately need a public inquiry to get to the bottom of this,” she said.

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