DELAYS in transferring responsibility of an underweight toddler from Sandwell to Dudley social workers have been condemned as “unacceptable” by an independent inquiry set up following her death.

A report by consultant Alan Ferguson highlights a catalogue of communication failures and missed opportunities to protect Keidey-Ellese Earp, aged 18 months, who died after being left alone in a wet cot by a window in a cold house.

Shortcomings in the handling of the case are laid squarely at the feet of managers for lack of support to the Sandwell social worker and Dudley health visitor who “worked tirelessly” to promote the toddler’s safety and welfare.

Keidey and her single mum, Elizabeth Duffell, aged 22, had moved from Sandwell to Tansey Green Road, Pensnett, seven months before the youngster died on December 3 2011. Miss Duffell now lives in Newhall Road, Rowley Regis.

Mr Ferguson said it was “of great concern” that the two local authorities had failed to resolve their differences over who should be responsible for the management of the Child Protection Plan which Sandwell had instigated.

Two days before Keidey died, while her mother watched a DVD in the next bedroom, Sandwell Council decided to start care proceedings, but it was too late to save her life.

An ambulance crew responding to a 999 call that an 18-month-old child was in cardiac arrest found she had been dead for some time as rigour mortis was just beginning.

The report added that a medical examination in hospital indicated there were no identifiable injuries but the child was dirty and showed signs of neglect.

At an inquest into Keidey’s death held in Smethwick last week, Black Country coroner Robin Balmain recorded an open verdict, saying the cause of death may never be known but it was probably due to the cold conditions in which she was left.

Sixty recommendations have been drawn up by Dudley and Sandwell councils in the aftermath of the tragedy and John Polychronakis, chairman of Dudley Safeguarding Children Board, expressed his “sadness” at the death.

He said: “An independent review has been carried out which concluded this tragic death was not predictable or preventable.

“The report does, however, highlight a number of areas of learning and identifies a number of recommendations, many of which have already been implemented. These include staff training and improved cross-border working to improve child protection systems.

“Dudley Safeguarding Children Board and Sandwell Safeguarding Children Board are committed to working together to implement lessons learnt in order to continue to improve our arrangements for safeguarding children."