More child services 'inadequate'

Baby P died shortly before Ofsted gave Haringey a clean bill of health

The number of children's services in England deemed inadequate by inspectors is expected to rise significantly.

Ofsted, which came under fire after the Baby P scandal, will publish annual assessments of children's services in 150 local authorities later.

Last year no councils were found to be inadequate overall and four were inadequate at keeping children safe.

Ofsted is expected to say inspections will be more rigorous from next year, but critics have demanded action now.

Chairman of the Commons children and families select committee Barry Sheerman told the BBC the system should be overhauled "immediately".

'Misleading' data

Earlier this month, MPs called for Ofsted to review the way it inspects children's services.

The call came amid criticism that Ofsted inspectors had made "favourable" inspections of north London's Haringey Council, where Baby P died last year.

He suffered months of abuse while on the council's child protection register.

A more thorough inspection this year revealed gross inadequacies in Haringey Council's child protection service.

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During a question session with MPs, Ofsted's chief inspector Christine Gilbert admitted the inspection in 2007 was misleading because, she argued, her inspectors had been misled by Haringey's data.

Social workers' caseloads were heavier than had been reported and files were not closed promptly as they should have been, she said.

She told MPs she was writing to all council chief executives in England saying she expected them to vouch for the data their managers provided.

She also said plans had been announced to reform and enhance the inspection of child protection.

The Commons children and families select committee is planning to investigate Ofsted.

Mr Sheerman said there were concerns that "the comfortable view of inspection for schools" was inappropriate for child protection.

Christine Gilbert appeared before the select committee last week

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he accused Ms Gilbert of being "complacent" and said she had rejected "out of hand" the committee's suggestions for improving children services departments.

"I put it to her