A SOCIAL work inspectorate could be set up in Edinburgh to monitor child protection staff following a series of inquiries into the killing of 11-week-old Caleb Ness.
It is one of a number of measures unveiled yesterday in response to an audit of the child protection register which found that the department's recording of risk assessment, planning and general communication were not up to scratch.
Unions welcomed plans to introduce inspections, the first of their kind in Scotland, which they said would help illustrate staff shortages.
Yesterday's report was ordered after the independent O'Brien inquiry criticised Edinburgh's child protection services following the killing of Caleb by his mother's partner, Alexander Ness, in 2001.
Last year's inquiry found fault ''at almost every level in every agency'' involved. It concluded that Caleb's death was ''avoidable'' and that ''neither parent should have had unsupervised care'' of the baby.
The report prompted the resignation of Les McEwan as social work director. Two social workers were also suspended and three switched to other duties.
At the time of his death, Caleb was subject to child protection orders. Alexander Ness, whom DNA evidence showed was not the infant's father, was jailed for 11 years after admitting culpable homicide.
The internal audit published yesterday found that only 85% of the 319 children on Edinburgh's child protection register had a child protection plan, and only 81% had a chronological history in their case files.
To address those shortcomings, the council announced the introduction of several measures.
These include improving procedures for the monitoring of all children on the child protection register, an annual internal audit of the council's child protection practices, and the appointment of 11 extra administration staff.
The council said it was also considering setting up an internal social work inspectorate, in the absence of any national body.
John Stevenson, Unison branch secretary, said the audit had identified shortcomings caused by lack of resources as much as failings by staff. He also said an inspection system was overdue.
''Any quality assurance system would be welcomed by staff. It would expose some of the very difficult circumstances they are having to work under,'' said Mr Stevenson.
Yesterday's report marks the end of the first phase of the department's internal review procedure.
An external team is now undertaking an in-depth case assessment of children on the child protection register and the council is also undergoing a review of the department's staff structure.
Tom Aitchison, the council's chief executive, has also promised to carry out a review of its child protection committee.
The findings of the internal audit will be discussed at a meeting of the council on Thursday and a further report, Protecting Children in Edinburgh, will be published in March.
Kingsley Thomas, executive member for social work, said: ''We are all determined to do our utmost to prevent another tragic child death in similar circumstances. I believe that we are all clearly demonstrating our commitment to learning the lessons of the O'Brien report.
''The audit has highlighted some areas where improvement is needed, but the results do appear to indicate higher levels of protection in Edinburgh than is the national average.
''We will continue to improve our systems and new procedures are being implemented.''
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