Caleb was shaken to death by his father

Edinburgh City Council initially announced that one social worker had been suspended and three staff members moved from child protection duties as a result of a review of procedures prompted by the probe into the death of Caleb Ness.

On Tuesday afternoon the council said that another social worker had been suspended.

Alexander Ness was sentenced to 11 years in prison for the culpable homicide of his son in October 2001.

A second member of social work staff has now been suspended on a precautionary basis pending the outcome of the staffing review which has already begun Council spokeswoman

Caleb was on the child protection register at the time of his death and an independent report found fault at "almost every level" by Edinburgh City Council and other care agencies involved.

The council promised a review of all of its 342 child care cases and operations in the social work department after the inquiry.

It promised it would take "appropriate action" if staff were found to have failed in their jobs.

A council spokeswoman confirmed that following the suspension of one social worker and transfer of three staff from child protection, its review had led to the suspension of another social worker.

The spokeswoman said: "A second member of social work staff has now been suspended on a precautionary basis pending the outcome of the staffing review which has already begun.

"This is in addition to the suspension announced last night."

One social worker had already been suspended "on a precautionary basis" and the duties of three other staff members were changed.

Alexander Ness was sent to jail

She said: "These staff will not be working on child protection cases, or chair child protection case conferences for the duration of the review."

Caleb was killed two months after being released from hospital into the care of his brain damaged father, who had previous convictions for violence and drug dealing and his mother, Shirley Malcolm, who was known to be a drug addict.

An inquiry by Edinburgh and Lothians Child Protection Committee under the chairmanship of Susan O'Brien QC declared that the parents should not have had care of the child.

Caleb's was an "avoidable child death", according to the report.

While the 260-page report criticised child protection arrangements for the infant and identified faults in every agency involved, it said no single individual should be held responsible.

Diminished responsibility

Particular criticism was directed at the city council's social work department and the agencies which are part of Lothian Health Board.

Ness had pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of the baby, claiming diminished responsibility due to a brain injury.

Sentencing him at the High Court in Edinburgh in March, judge Lady Cosgrove said she took that into account but still declared that Ness posed a threat to children.

Speaking ahead of the second suspension, council chief executive Tom Aitchison said: "We are fully committed to the safety and well-being of the 342 children on the child protection register.

"A review of all these cases has already begun and we are also taking immediate action to implement the recommendations contained in the inquiry team's report.