'Pragmatic and sensible' Laming report welcomed

Atkinson said the Laming report, commissioned by Children's Secretary Ed Balls, provided a "clear direction for immediate action to further strengthen the system, increase accountability and openness."

She also supported the decision to change the name of the National College for School Leadership to include its remit to support all leaders for children.

She said: "The role of the director of children's services is probably unique in that it involves working across agencies via the children's trust as well as managing a large department and taking part in corporate decision making.

"It is important those individuals who helped to shape the role in the last four years are at the heart of planning and delivering the development programme."

James Kempton, London Councils' executive member for children and young people, said the case of Baby P, which sparked Laming's review of child protection services, had highlighted the "huge responsibility" councils carry in protecting vulnerable children.

He said: "We will work with Lord Laming's recommendations as part of doing everything within our powers to safeguard London's children.
 
"London has specific challenges which include a very mobile population, high levels of child poverty and a large number of families needing support.
 
 "One of the biggest challenges nationally is recruiting and retaining good social workers and this problem is even more acute in London. Social work is an incredibly demanding career and more needs to be done to support the workforce whose job it is to protect children."