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Social services directors say their departments are facing a 'bombardment' of referrals and the number is rising 'remorselessly'.

The Association of Directors of Social Services is to brief journalists on the eve of the inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie later this month about the current plight of social services.

A statement from the ADSS says the number of care orders has increased by more than 50 per cent in recent years, and resource allocations have failed to meet rising demand. There is also a recruitment and retention crisis to contend with, the directors say.

The statement describes the death of Victoria as 'a significant moment in the development of child care and child protection services in the UK'.

Victoria was killed by her great aunt Marie-Therese Kouao and boyfriend Carl Manning, who were sentenced to life for murder earlier this year.

Two social workers working for Haringey council face disciplinary action for their handling of the case after they have given evidence to the inquiry.

The association is also planning to release the results of new research into the impact on social services of the rise in the number of unaccompanied children coming to the UK, and new figures revealing the impact of the shortage of child care workers.