Disciplinary proceedings have started against 12 Queensland governmental staff following the first stage of a review into the death of toddler Mason Jet Lee.
Three officers will stand down effective immediately, with pay.
They will not return to work pending the outcome of the investigation, which could take 10 to 12 weeks.
Child Safety Minister Shannon Fentiman said the systems and practice review into the department's interactions with Mason and his family was delivered to her yesterday.
"It found staff may have breached legislation, standards, codes and procedures in this case and consequently, 12 Child Safety workers have been referred to the department's ethical standards branch," Ms Fentiman said.
Ms Fentiman said the report detailed "serious errors of judgment".
She said the 12 staff members had some role with Mason's case in "different degrees".
Child safety services in the north coast region will be split into two and managed by two regional directors, instead of one.
Work will also begin to establish a new child safety service centre in the Moreton Bay region.
Ms Fentiman said the report highlighted that the Caboolture region had been under "incredible pressure" since about 2013.
"But it does note that there has been considerable staff allocated to the region but it hasn't kept up with demand," she said.
"The report clearly shows serious flaws in management and supervision at the local child safety service centre and errors of judgment by individual staff."
Queensland family and child commissioner Cheryl Vardon said she was "appalled and shocked and distressed" by the contents of the report.
"And I've been close to child safety for many years and my first reaction was, how could this have happened?" Ms Vardon said.
"It cannot happen again. It is unacceptable that we found that there's been a complete breakdown in systems."
Ms Vardon said it was important to make sure Mason did not die in vain.
The final report will be released at the end of January.
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls accused Ms Fentiman of only acting following an right to information request from the Liberal National Party and media inquiries.
"Today we have seen the Minister for Child Safety, Shannon Fentiman, dragged kicking and screaming into taking action," Mr Nicholls said.
"Shannon Fentiman hasn't acted proactively to resolve issues since the death of poor Mason Jet Lee 5½ months ago."
Mr Nicholls said children were at risk every minute the system was not fixed and called on Ms Fentiman to resign.
He said the government had ministers who specialised in blaming staff members rather than taking responsibility.
"Even if the staff are to be held to account, as they ought to be, it is still up to the minister to make sure that those staff are doing the right job," Mr Nicholls said.
Mr Nicholls said it was ridiculous to say the child safety system was not in crisis.
Together Union secretary Alex Scott called for the investigation into the Child Safety staff and disciplinary processes to be carried out by a different department.
"Clearly the staff have been failed by the department and so the department shouldn't be able to shift the blame to the individual officers as part of this process," Mr Scott said.
"It should be undertaken by another director-general and an ethical standards unit from another agency."
Mr Scott said the director-general and department should take corporate responsibility for problems in the system, such as staffing and resources, which were not determined by Child Safety officers.
He said he would not allow union members to become the "scapegoats for a failing system", but he said individual officers should be held accountable for their actions.
"Clearly the system has significant problems, the children have been failed in this particular case, but as an ongoing activity, our staff are fundamental to delivering the best outcome for children," he said.
Mr Scott said the union had requested an urgent meeting with Ms Fentiman for next week.