Inspectors said services provided by Worcestershire County Council displayed "widespread and serious" failures in provision for both children living in the community, and those who had been taken into care.
Specific problems centre around a failure to recruit "good quality, permanent social workers and managers" and an inconsistent use of thresholds "across the service and at every point of the child's journey".
"Too many children have been left in situations of escalating risk without becoming looked after," the inspection report states.
"Many child protection strategy meetings do not involve all relevant agencies, to allow a thorough discussion of the risks to children.
"As a result, children who require protection from harm and who need urgent improvement in their lives are left in situations of actual and escalating risk of significant harm.
"Children are, however, well supported by the out-of-hours service, where assessments, return home interviews and overall decisions are effective."
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