The study of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) found that 11 per cent of safeguarding nurse posts and 14 per cent of child protection doctor posts are currently unfilled.
This represents a sharp rise in empty posts since 2009 when vacancy rates were five and four per cent respectively.
As well as safeguarding nurses and doctors, the NHS employs designated looked-after children’s professionals to make sure that children in care have access to health services.
According to the survey, 22 per cent of these posts were vacant in 2011, up from 19 per cent in 2009.
Overall, the survey found that 27 per cent of LSCBs have one or more vacancies relating to child protection or children in care, compared to 17 per cent in 2009.
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