Tim Loughton has slammed Labour's lack of action after new figures showed one in seven social worker posts are vacant.
There has been a 30% rise in vacancy rates in England since 2005 and some local authorities are missing at least a third of the required number of social workers.
Excessive bureaucracy and low morale have both been blamed for recruiting problems, which have led to increased pressure and extra caseloads.
Tim, the Shadow Children's Minister, said, "In failing to take action the Government has created a vicious circle of overstretch and under recruitment. Unsurprisingly demoralised and exhausted experts are leaving and very few are coming in to fill their shoes."
And he stressed that the profession needs "a massive shot in the arm":
"Recent tragedies have shown us that at the moment there is too much form-filling and box-ticking. We need to strengthen and support social workers to best protect the most vulnerable children."