Kingston Council has recruited enough social workers to help protect a growing number of vulnerable children.

The number of referrals has risen since the Baby P case, with social workers in the safeguarding team shuffling 22 cases at one point earlier this year - much more than the recommended 15 to 18 cases.

The council is confident it has found the three to four permanent social workers necessary to fill the gap, with an extra £200,000 invested.

Duncan Clark, the interim director of learning and children’s services, said: “We have had a really good recruitment strategy and we will by October have no locums in place.

“That is the first time in nine years here that we will have a full complement of staff. The challenge is to maintain that.”

During the past year the number of referrals increased from 769 to 1,186.

There are currently 121 children and young people on child protection plans, including two unborn babies, compared with 79 last year.

The council plans to save more than £200,000 by replacing expensive locum staff with permanent workers, as well as saving £150,000 in reviewing its safeguarding structures.

A serious case review was due to be published into how a father came to be accused of sexually abusing his children despite repeated contact with social services.

Ofsted was sent the independent review in July 2010 but the father may still face criminal charges, halting the publication of the report.