The review found that a large number of directors of children's servicesin England lack experience of front-line social work.
It advises that where this is the case, the children's service mustappoint a senior manager with child protection experience.
Children's secretary Ed Balls said that he would act 'swiftly, anddecisively' to implement the Laming report's 58 recommendations. Adetailed action plan is to be drawn up by the end of April.
Mr Balls said, 'Lord Laming makes a series of detailed recommendationsto ensure that best practice is universally applied in every area of thecountry, to improve local accountability, and to provide more supportfor local leaders and the front-line workforce.'
He added, 'None of Lord Laming's proposals alone could have preventedthe death of Baby P. But all of them together add up to a step change infrontline child protection. No barrier, no bureaucracy, no buck-passingshould ever get in the way of keeping children safe.'
The report called for the children's secretary to 'immediately addressthe inadequacy of the training and supply of frontline socialworkers'.
It also found 'significant problems in the day-to-day reality of workingacross organisational boundaries and cultures, sharing information toprotect children and a lack of feedback when professionals raiseconcerns about a child.'
The report said that too often, joint working between schools, earlyyears, police and health 'depends on the commitment of individualstaff'.
In a statement to the House of Commons, Mr Balls confirmed theestablishment of a new cross-government National Safeguarding DeliveryUnit to improve front-line practice in all services.
He also named Sir Roger Singleton, former head of Barnardo's and aleading expert on child protection, to be the Government's first chiefadviser on the safety of children.
'Sir Roger will advise us on how to update and strengthen our statutoryguidance for front-line staff, to make it absolutely clear to everyagency and every practitioner what they need to do to keep childrensafe,' said Mr Balls.
- The Protection of Children in England: A Progress Report is availableat www.everychildmatters.gov.uk/socialcare/safeguarding.
