EXPERTS within a children’s charity claim health professionals ignored “clear warning signs” in the family background of a baby girl who later died in suspicious circumstances.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children states health professionals should have taken action to protect little Poppi Worthington, from Barrow, who a judge ruled was subjected to a sex assault by her father moments before her death in December 2012.

The charity’s scathing criticism of agencies involved in the case followed yesterday’s release of a shocking report which revealed health professionals saw no need to intervene in the family of the blue-eyed 13-month-old – despite a series of indicators for concern.

An NSPCC spokesman said: “This report shows that clear warning signs were ignored, leaving a vulnerable child to die from appalling injuries. We need to understand why agencies didn’t take appropriate action.

“Only then can children get the right level of protection to ensure they do not suffer the same dreadful fate.”

“We must have full confidence in the agencies responsible for looking after children.

“No child must ever be failed again in this way.”

The Serious Case Review lists a series of red flags which might have raised alarm bells with professionals – such as a complex family history that included “inter and multi-generational” abuse and a sibling who was noted as looking “withdrawn” and “sad”.

It also states that Poppi’s mother, who had spent time in the care system herself and who left home at 15 to live with an abusive couple, was a “young woman with complex and multiple vulnerabilities” who had been subject to “significant and traumatic life events”.

These circumstances, the report states, could have compromised her parenting capacity and her “ability to protect herself and her children from harm”.

Poppi’s father, Paul Worthington, 47, did not provide information for the report, but he is said to have been living a “brutal”, homeless existence in a “large city” before meeting Poppi’s mother.

The case review also found professionals, including mid-wives and health visitors, had demonstrated no “professional curiosity and scepticism” around the family circumstances, despite there being a significant age gap between Paul Worthington and Poppi’s mother.

Child safeguarding leaders have now admitted the toddler’s family background and circumstances should have triggered an offer of early help from supporting agencies – giving them better access to assess the youngster and her siblings – though they deny there were any opportunities to have prevented the little girl’s death.

Gill Rigg, chairman of Cumbria’s Local Safeguarding Children Board, said Poppi had appeared to be a happy and healthy child and her mother had seemed to be coping well with a large family.

However Mrs Rigg added: “With hindsight, this family had a troubling family history.

“But there weren’t any concerns identified by any of the professionals in contact with the family to suggest intervention was appropriate.”

Dr Amanda Boardman, the LSCB’s GP representative, added: “If the professionals had put the pieces of the puzzle together, then early help should have been offered; but at the time this tragic event happened, early help was just really starting.”

A post mortem report found Poppi had also sustained a broken leg in the weeks before her death, an injury which was never reported to medical professionals.

Though criminal charges have never been brought forward, the Crown Prosecution Service is carrying out a review of the case.

Paul Worthington denies any wrongdoing in relation to his daughter.