...comes from Rodney Brooke, chairman of the General Social Care Council, reflecting on the lessons of Lord Laming's report on the death of Victoria Climbie.

"Everyone in social care is haunted by the death of Victoria Climbie. Lord Laming's report into this tragedy, published yesterday, reveals the inability of all those involved - including social workers - to prevent the abuse and death of the little girl.

"A familiar story was uncovered - bad management, poor professional standards and a lack of communication between agencies - all compounded by moves between different London Boroughs. This and other tragic cases have rightly led to the scrutiny of standards in social care.

"While nothing can prevent all cases of abuse, a major transformation is underway that will improve the protection of both children and adults who need to use social care services.

"For the first time, the social care workforce will be regulated - bringing it in line with the medical and nursing professions. The General Social Care Council in England (and our sister bodies in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) will be responsible for promoting and enforcing standards in the social care workforce.

"We have introduced the first national codes of practice that define and raise standards of care. They provide clear guidance to social care workers and their employers and address some of the terrible mistakes of the past. They also mean that users, carers and the wider public will know what level of conduct and practice they can expect.

"From April the process of registering social care workers will begin, eventually creating the biggest workforce register in the UK. We will take decisive action against anyone on the register who breaks the new codes of practice.

"Later in the year, the first students will begin studying the new degree in social work. This degree will have a strengthened practical element, including a focus on developing inter-agency skills.

"The report into the Newham killing of Ainlee Labonte highlighted the failure of social services, health and police to work together effectively. The report concludes that a combination of inadequate communication, poor management and bad practice demonstrated by these agencies had tragic consequences for the two year-old girl.

"The vast majority of the social care workforce provides a life-sustaining service to around 1.5 million people every week.

"These tragedies show us how much we rely on workers and managers to do their jobs well in order to save children from abuse and death. The changes that are taking place will encourage higher standards of social care services and greater protection for the vulnerable people that use them."