An expert in child protection has been drafted in to mentor officers at Haringey Council and make sure the borough's children are safe.

A public inquiry is also underway to discover how a 17-month-old toddler came to die at the hands of his family after 60 visits from the borough's health workers and social services.

Hampshire's director of children's services, John Coughlan, will work alongside his Haringey counterpart Sharon Shoesmith, after the authorities failed to save the life of Baby P last August.

The toddler from Tottenham was seen nearly twice a week since December 2007 by social workers and doctors over the eight month period in which he was being abused by his family.

But critically, no-one removed him from his dangerous home and he died on August 3, 2007.

His 27-year-old mother, her 32-year-old boyfriend from Haringey and their lodger Jason Owen, 36 from Bromley, were all convicted of causing or allowing the child's death.

But a Serious Case Review into Haringey Council's actions revealed "poor quality practice, management and supervision of staff in all agencies" involved in trying to protect Baby P.

Education secretary Ed Balls said yesterday: "The review's findings indicate a number of failings of practice and management by the agencies involved.

"Clearly such findings in an individual case raise serious concerns about the wider systems and management."

After public outrage at how this could have happened again, eight years on from the death of Victoria Climbie in similar circumstances in Haringey, a public inquiry has started into Haringey council's actions.

Education secretary Ed Balls said: "The Review will need to undertake an urgent and thorough inspection of the quality of practice and management of all services which contribute to the effective safeguarding of children in the local area."

The inquiry will be carried out by Ofsted, the Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection and the Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

The findings will be presented to Mr Balls on December 1.

He added: "The case of Baby P is tragic and appalling. It is our duty to take whatever action is needed to ensure that such a tragedy doesn't happen again, that lessons are learned and that children in Haringey are safe."

The first review revealed Haringey council should not have used family friends as temporary carers for Baby P and should instead have placed him in foster care.

It also stated health professionals failed to take appropriate action when they suspected the child may have been abused.

MP for Hornsey and Wood Green Lynne Featherstone again called for those in charge of services to resign or be sacked.

She said: "I welcome this inquiry. Its findings must be made public so we can find out what went so tragically wrong and who is responsible. "Haringey Council cannot be continually learning lessons, it has to demonstrate these lessons have been learnt.

"Haringey Council are not running a child-care academy – these are crucial, senior jobs in the front line of protecting the lives of children. "This is a stark admission that the top brass running children services in Haringey are not up to the job.

"Our children's service cannot wait for these people to be mentored. They must go."

Cabinet member for children and young people in Haringey, Liz Santry said: "We welcome the additional help and support the Government's proposed review of Haringey Council's Children and Young People's Services will offer.

"If any further recommendations arise over the coming weeks we will not hesitate to act on them. We want our child protection to be the very best possible."

She also revealed the council will be commissioning an independent expert for another internal review.