A survey commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA) revealed that 93 per cent of councillors in charge of children's services believe the reporting of the Baby P case had a negative impact on the way people regard social workers.
Nearly nine out of 10 also said they believed there had been a negative impact on staff morale.
The association has voiced fears that a poor public image and low morale among social workers will worsen problems with recruitment and retention, weakening child protection services.
Margaret Eaton, chairman of the LGA, said: "Social workers should be proud of what they do. Councillors want social workers to be able to hold their heads high when they tell people about their jobs, and it is partly down to councils to show they are proud of them as employees."
During the association's annual conference this week, posters aimed at boosting the image of social work have been unveiled and will be offered to councils across England as part of the Respect and Protect campaign.
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