A survey of 392 trusts carried out by the CQC in the wake of the Baby P case found that the majority of organisations had the right people and systems to help protect children but training was not up to scratch.
Other issues identified included a lack of clarity over the roles of doctors and nurses in relation to safeguarding, and some trusts lacking policies in key areas of child protection.
Meanwhile 29 primary care trusts reported caseloads of more than 500 children per health visitor, well above Lord Laming's recommendation of 400.
Cynthia Bower, CQC chief executive, said: "Immediately after the Baby P tragedy, everyone agreed that everything possible must be done to prevent a recurrence.
"This must not prove to be hollow rhetoric. The NHS has got to play its part by getting these safeguarding measures in place.
"It is clear that safeguarding has not been as high on the agenda of trust boards as it should have been."
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