Key Takeaways

• LADOs are statutory officers coordinating responses to allegations against adults working with children, prioritising child safeguarding.
• They provide expert advice, oversee investigation processes, and chair multi-agency meetings, but do not conduct investigations themselves.
• Timely reporting of concerns to the LADO (within one working day) is crucial for effective intervention and child protection.

What is a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)?

A Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is a crucial role within local authority safeguarding children services, responsible for managing and overseeing allegations against adults who work with children. This includes paid staff, volunteers, agency workers, and even self-employed individuals who come into contact with children as part of their role. The LADO’s primary function is to ensure that all allegations or concerns about individuals who work with children are dealt with fairly, thoroughly, and in a timely manner, with the paramount focus on safeguarding children’s welfare. This role is statutory, meaning every local authority has a legal duty to have a LADO in place, as outlined in government guidance like ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.

The LADO acts as a central point for receiving and coordinating information regarding allegations, providing expert advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations. This ensures that appropriate procedures are followed, balancing the need to protect children with the fair treatment of the accused individual. The LADO does not conduct investigations directly; instead, they oversee the process, ensuring investigations are carried out by the relevant agencies (e.g., employers, police, children’s social care) and reach a fair conclusion.

The Role and Responsibilities of a LADO

The responsibilities of a LADO are multifaceted, extending beyond simply receiving allegations. A key aspect of the LADO’s role is to provide advice, information, and guidance to employers, voluntary organisations, and other professionals regarding concerns about adults who work with children. This includes assisting organisations in determining whether a concern meets the threshold for a formal LADO referral. They help establish the most appropriate way to manage the concern or allegation and advise on the next steps.

Furthermore, the LADO is responsible for managing and overseeing individual cases from all partner agencies, ensuring consistency and thoroughness in the process. They liaise closely with various bodies such as the police, children’s social care, regulatory bodies (like Ofsted), and professional organisations to ensure coordinated action and information sharing. A critical part of their role is monitoring the progress of cases, aiming for prompt resolution while maintaining fairness. They may also arrange and chair ‘Allegations Management Meetings’ (sometimes called Position of Trust meetings) where multiple agencies come together to discuss the allegations, share information, and agree on a plan of action to safeguard children.

Crucially, the LADO ensures that the child’s voice is heard and that their welfare is paramount throughout the entire process. They also ensure that any adult against whom an allegation is made is treated fairly and that due process is followed, preventing unfair prejudgement.

When a LADO is Involved

A LADO must be contacted within one working day when there is an allegation that a person who works with children (in either a paid or unpaid capacity) has:

• Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child.
• Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child.
• Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.
• Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.

This broad definition ensures that a wide range of concerns, from direct harm to patterns of behaviour that raise suitability questions, are captured. Allegations can relate to current or historical concerns and may even arise from an individual’s private life if it raises safeguarding concerns. For example, if a professional’s own child becomes subject to child protection procedures, it may trigger a LADO referral to assess implications for their professional role.

Referrals to the LADO service come predominantly from professionals and organisations. In a recent reporting period, one local authority received 1458 referrals, a 14% increase from the previous year, with primary and secondary education sectors being the highest users. Another report showed 1197 referrals, with 29% meeting the LADO threshold for formal intervention. It’s important to note that the LADO cannot accept direct referrals from parents or carers; if parents have concerns, they should report them to the child’s school, organisation, or Children’s Social Care. (Refer to the ‘Complaint Procedures’ article for more on how to raise concerns).

The LADO Process: What to Expect

Once an allegation is made and a referral is received by the LADO, an initial evaluation is conducted to determine if the concern meets the LADO threshold. If the threshold is met, the LADO will then oversee the management of the allegation. This involves several key stages:

1. Initial Consultation and Information Gathering: The LADO provides consultation to the employer/agency to ensure proper procedures are followed. This often involves liaising with the police and children’s social care to share relevant information.

2. Allegations Management Meeting (AMM): For more complex or serious allegations, the LADO will convene and chair an inter-agency meeting. Attendees typically include representatives from the employer, police, children’s social care, and human resources. The purpose of this meeting is to share information, assess risk, agree on a strategy for investigation, and establish a clear plan to safeguard children. These meetings are not part of disciplinary procedures, and the employee/volunteer is generally not invited to attend.

3. Investigation: The LADO does not conduct investigations but monitors their progress. Investigations are carried out by the relevant agencies, such as the employer, police (if a criminal offence is suspected), or children’s social care (if there are broader safeguarding concerns).

4. Monitoring and Review: The LADO monitors the investigation’s progress to ensure it is thorough, timely, and fair. They will ensure cases are dealt with as quickly as possible.

5. Outcome and Resolution: At the conclusion of the investigation, the LADO will discuss the outcome with the employer and consider whether any referrals to other agencies, such as the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), are necessary. Outcomes can include substantiated, unsubstantiated (insufficient evidence to prove or disprove), false, or malicious. Employers are expected to communicate the outcome to the worker. It is important to remember that resignations do not prevent a full investigation and appropriate referrals.

The overall aim is to ensure that children are protected, and appropriate action is taken, while also ensuring fairness for the accused individual. The timeline for the process can vary, but referrals should be made within 24 hours of the allegation.

Support for Families and Professionals

Navigating a LADO process can be stressful for both families and professionals. For families, while the LADO does not accept direct referrals from parents, their concerns are vital. The LADO works with relevant authorities to ensure that parental concerns are considered and that families are kept informed where appropriate. If you are a parent with concerns, your first point of contact should be the child’s school, organisation, or Children’s Social Care (refer to ‘Child Protection’ for more details on reporting concerns). The LADO can guide parents to the correct agencies.

For professionals who are subject to an allegation, it is crucial to seek advice from a trade union representative and/or professional association. Employers should also offer appropriate support, which may include counselling or time off. Confidentiality is maintained throughout the process for both the child and the employee. The LADO service aims to ensure a fair process for the employee/volunteer, balancing this with the paramount need to safeguard children. Awareness-raising activities, such as e-learning courses and training, are being developed to increase understanding among professionals.

Legal Framework Governing the LADO Role

The role of the Local Authority Designated Officer is rooted in statutory guidance and legislation. The primary framework is the ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ guidance, issued by the Department for Education. This guidance sets out the expectations for local authorities in managing allegations against individuals who work with children. Additionally, the LADO’s duties are governed by Section 11 of the Children Act 2004, which places a duty on key organisations to make arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Other relevant documents include ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ (for educational settings) and local child protection procedures.

These legal and statutory requirements underscore the importance of the LADO role in the broader ‘Safeguarding & Risk Management’ landscape. They ensure a consistent approach across the country to protect children from harm while maintaining professional standards and accountability. Local authorities must designate officers to be involved in the management and oversight of individual cases, ensuring that cases are dealt with quickly and fairly.

The Importance of Early Reporting and Collaboration

Timely reporting of concerns and allegations to the LADO is critical. The guidance stipulates that allegations should be reported to the LADO within one working day of the allegation being made, and before any further investigation is initiated by the employer. This early intervention allows the LADO to provide immediate advice and guidance, ensuring that appropriate actions are taken to protect children and that the subsequent process is managed effectively. Delay in reporting can potentially put children at greater risk.

Effective collaboration between all agencies involved—employers, police, children’s social care, and the LADO—is fundamental to the success of the allegations management process. The LADO acts as a linchpin, coordinating these efforts to ensure that all relevant information is shared, risks are assessed comprehensively, and decisions are made in the best interests of the child. This multi-agency approach helps to ensure a thorough and fair process for all parties, ultimately contributing to a safer environment for children and young people.

Back to Hub: Comprehensive Safeguarding & Risk Management in Social Care: A Professional’s Handbook

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can make a referral to a LADO?

Only professionals and organisations working with children can make direct referrals to a LADO. Parents and carers cannot make direct referrals but should report concerns to the child’s school, organisation, or Children’s Social Care.

What types of allegations does a LADO deal with?

LADOs deal with allegations where an adult working with children has: harmed or may have harmed a child; committed or may have committed a criminal offence against a child; behaved in a way that indicates they pose a risk of harm to children; or behaved in a way that indicates they are unsuitable to work with children.

Does the LADO investigate the allegations directly?

No, the LADO does not conduct investigations directly. Their role is to oversee and manage the process, providing advice and guidance, and ensuring that investigations are carried out thoroughly and fairly by the relevant agencies (e.g., employer, police, children’s social care).

What happens in a LADO Allegations Management Meeting?

An Allegations Management Meeting brings together professionals from different agencies (e.g., employer, police, social care) to share information, assess risk, agree on a strategy for investigation, and establish a plan to safeguard the child. The LADO chairs these meetings.

Featured Snippet Target

A Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is a senior officer responsible for managing and overseeing allegations of harm or risk of harm to children against individuals who work with children, including volunteers. The LADO ensures these concerns are handled fairly and thoroughly, prioritising child safety while coordinating with relevant agencies like police and social care.

Glossary of Terms

LADO: Local Authority Designated Officer; a statutory role within local authorities responsible for managing and overseeing allegations against adults who work with children.

Allegations Management Meeting (AMM): An inter-agency meeting chaired by the LADO to share information, assess risk, and plan investigations concerning allegations against adults working with children.

Working Together to Safeguard Children: Key statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education that outlines how organisations and individuals should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

Position of Trust: Refers to adults who hold a professional or voluntary role working with children, implying a level of authority or responsibility that places them in a position of trust.

Next Steps

Understanding the LADO’s role is fundamental for anyone involved in safeguarding children. For further information on related topics, explore our articles on ‘Child Protection’ (Internal link to ‘Child Protection’ spoke article), ‘Professional Standards’ (Internal link to ‘Professional Standards’ spoke article), and ‘Complaint Procedures’ (Internal link to ‘Complaint Procedures’ spoke article) within the ‘Safeguarding & Risk Management’ hub. These resources provide deeper insights into the broader context of ensuring children’s safety and wellbeing, guiding both families and professionals on their responsibilities and available support.

Keep the Conversation Going

 

If this article sparked your interest in safeguarding and supporting vulnerable young people, we invite you to join our community. Sign up to the Looked After Child Limited newsletter to receive guidance on trauma-informed care, updates on our community events, and resources to help you understand the fostering and residential care journey. Together, we can prioritize the welfare and future of every child.

SUBSCRIBE!

You have Successfully Subscribed!