THE full extent of cuts to Hampshire’s adult social services have been revealed with 400 full-time equivalent jobs set to be axed this year to save £24.4m.

Thirty-six senior managers have already agreed to take early retirement or voluntary redundancy, leaving 374 posts to be culled by March 2012.

The losses are part of a total of 1,200 posts being axed at the county council as it tries to save £55m, as revealed by the Daily Echo last week.

The councils employs a total of 14,797 people (excluding schools) in full and part-time posts.

Every department is being expected to tighten its belts although child protection, free bus passes for pensioners and road repairs will be protected.

Some residential homes and day centres for adults with learning disabilities have been earmarked for closure.

It is understood about 60 residential carers and day centre staff are among those whose jobs could be at risk. Others are likely to include clerical and communications staff.

Gina Turner, branch secretary for the union Unison, which represents thousands of staff at Hampshire County Council, said: “Last week’s announcement was a shock. We are still trying to find out more details. At the moment we can’t say where the cuts will fall.”

Social services bosses hope to maintain safe services for the most vulnerable despite cuts in central Government funding and increased demand for services.

The council is expecting to provide vital care for an extra 776 elderly and disabled people who live at home and need help with washing, dressing and other basic tasks this year.

The authority will continue to provide social care for those whose needs are rated “substantial” as well as “critical”.

But individual care packages will be scrutinised and contracts with care providers renegotiated in an attempt to save about £11m.

This will mean fewer hours of care for some vulnerable disabled adults and pensioners in their own homes.

Funding has been pulled from HIV/Aids supports services and from the Stroke Association as Government grants have ended.

The council will save about £450,000 from stopping funding to a Winchester-based vocational advice service for people with mental health problems which will close.

The council is also consulting on plans to increase fees for elderly and disabled people who live at home and need daily help.

County councillor Felicity Hindson, executive member for social care, said: “These are challenging times for the county council.

“We continue to face a high demand for our services with more people needing more complex packages of care but as a result of the Government grant reduction, like all council’s services, we must seek to make saving of eight per cent of our total budget.”

She said this involved making “difficult decisions”.

Cllr Hindson will consider the proposed budget this Friday.