COUNTY social work chiefs have stopped taking on new recruits and banned conferences in a bid to balance the books.

A predicted £4.6m deficit in children’s services has led to a vacancy freeze except “key posts” such as front-line social workers and carers in residential homes.

Teachers are not affected as they are employed by schools which manage their own budgets.

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In a leaked letter to staff, John Coughlan, director of children’s services, said: “The departmental budget position for this financial year is looking increasingly stretched and currently projecting a significant overspend.

“The pressures we are seeing in this financial year looks set to continue into 2010 and beyond.”

The council boss said vacancies would be frozen until January 2010 when the situation will be reviewed.

Meanwhile only “essential” temporary and agency staff will be employed.

Mr Coughlan also banned staff from booking conferences and seminars or organising large events until March 2010.

Other cost-cutting measures include reducing staff travel budgets by 10 per cent.

Pressures Pressures on the service include a six per cent increase in the number of children in care from 1,023 in March 2008 to 1,084 in March 2009 following the Baby P scandal.

There has also been an eight per cent rise in pupils assessed as having special educational needs and more children requiring paid escorts to school.

Councillor David Kirk, who is responsible for children’s services, said: “There are pressures on the budget as one might expect with a demand-led service with vulnerable children and families requiring support which we have a statutory obligation to provide."

“We are taking prudent, sensible steps to cut down on unnecessary expenditure while ensuring frontline services remain unaffected.’’ Liberal Democrat opposition spokesman for children’s services Councillor Brian Dash said: “Whatever happens with the economy, it must not affect front-line services.”