Birmingham City Council has suspended its director of children’s social care, Colin Tucker, with immediate effect.
The council refused to comment other than to confirm the suspension, but a spokesman denied the move was in response to the death of a child in the city on Sunday.
The death of the two-year-old boy is to be reviewed by Birmingham’s safeguarding children board.
Mr Tucker joined the council in 2009 from Sandwell BC, after the council had been put on special measures. Last month, Birmingham was named as one of the 12 most poorly performing children’s service departments in the country.
Last July, Ofsted claimed the council was failing to protect vulnerable children and it had inadequate capacity to improve.
In October, the council hired ‘trouble-shooter’ Elinor Brazil on an 18-month contract to turn around its failing children’s services, above Mr Tucker.
LocalGov.co.uk understands Mr Tucker’s role would be covered by Mark Gurrey, the current interim deputy director.
