The research, based on a two-year study of five local authorities in England and Wales, found that the computerised Integrated Children's System (ICS), undermines good social work practice.
The system, which was introduced following the 2003 Laming report sparked by the death of Victoria Climbie, was found to "burden" social workers.
Researchers claimed using the system could be "dangerous" to children in local authorities where staff turnover or sickness rates are high.
David Wastell, professor of Information Systems at the University of Nottingham, warned that ICS was unfit for purpose, because it was developed by central government with little input from frontline social work practitoners.
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