A report into Caleb's death raised serious failings

At present there are only 62 specialist staff backed up by 32 other social workers dealing with more than 2,500 children each week

The council has admitted the shortfall is connected to the damning report into the death of baby Caleb Ness.

A national shortage of social workers has also been blamed.

Of the child protection cases, more than 300 children are on the at-risk register.

When the department was criticised for the way it dealt with the case of baby Caleb Ness, morale plummeted and some social workers left, adding to the staffing problems.

There's undoubtedly, I think, a link due to the intense amount of pressure that I think everybody's been under Councillor Kingsley Thomas Social work spokesman

Eleven-week-old Caleb was on Edinburgh's child protection register when he was killed by his father.

An independent report identified failings "at almost every level" in the handling of the case.

Edinburgh City Council, which is planning to restructure social work services, said it was working to address the staff shortages.

Social work spokesman, Councillor Kingsley Thomas, said: "There's undoubtedly, I think, a link due to the intense amount of pressure that I think everybody's been under in the department and particularly in the children and families area recently.

"It's a hard enough job at the easiest times, child protection work, and it must be one of the hardest in the public sector.

"There's uncertainties, there's been intense pressures on everyone in the department and that has undoubtedly had an effect on some people who have decided to move on."

Mr Thomas said the council was looking at local measures to increase pay rates to help retain staff, along with a range of initiatives to try and attract more people into the profession.