Lambeth Council is putting in place a new team to ensure that children are put first whenever they come into contact with the authority's services.

The Children First Audit Team is looking at all council services that affect the lives of children to scrutinise the safety and effectiveness of them, including those for children in care and those on the protection register.

The team, which report its findings to the Chief Executive is among a number of new initiatives aimed at improving services for children.

It is part of a new organisational culture at Lambeth which - last month was put under special measures by Health Minister John Hutton to tackle the crisis in its services for children and families.

The Audit Team will track and report on action plans drafted as a result of previous reports, including the Barratt Report, the SSI Inspection and the Joint Review.

Deputy leader of Lambeth, Councillor Steve Reed, who is leading on this initiative, said: "Following the Barratt Report into child abuse in Lambeth care homes, and reports across the country revealing widespread abuse of children, the council is adamant that child safety must come first.

"The new Children First Audit Team is a unique initiative in local government, and a sign of how serious we are about protecting children."

The team will check that services meet children's needs "and, most importantly, that no child's safety is ever put at risk", he added.

Other Council initiatives to improve services for children include recruiting new people to key management positions in social services and redrafting council procedures relating to children.

A Children First Commission has also been set up, made up of lay people with an interest in improving services.