Allegations against staff and volunteers working with children

The role of the Local Authority Designated Officer

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) provides advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations about any concerns relating to adults who work with children and young people (up to 18 years).  The LADO is also responsible for overseeing the investigation of allegations including historical allegations made against adults who work with children and young people.

Adults who work with children and young people may include the following:

• paid or unpaid workers
• people in a position of trust
• volunteers
• casual or agency staff
• people who are self-employed
• any other people who have contact with children and young people as part of their role

If you are worried about someone working with a child

The LADO is a role set out in the government guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018).  In accordance with the guidance, the allegations process will be followed if a volunteer or member of staff is alleged to have:

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

The fourth criteria relates to a person’s behaviour in the workplace, the community, in their home and social life.

What the LADO does

 On contacting the LADO, you will be offered an initial consultation about the concern.  Following an initial consultation, the LADO may:

• Offer advice and guidance
• Establish whether the concern or allegation reaches threshold for LADO involvement and if so, what next steps should be taken
• Consult with police and other agencies
• Arrange an Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers Meeting (ASV) if threshold is met
• Advise on the need for employee risk assessments when appropriate
• Monitor investigations to make sure they are resolved fairly and as quickly as possible

Outcomes

The outcome of an allegation is determined following either a police investigation/ Children’s Services or employer investigation. There may be more than one investigation, and these may run parallel to each other.

On conclusion of the case, the LADO will advise on whether there is a need for the employer to refer to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), or the appropriate professional body.

Contact Information

The lead LADO for Brighter Futures for Children is Sue Darby.

If you have concerns regarding someone working with children, these should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), please see the following contact details;

• 0118 937 2684
• LADO@brighterfuturesforchildren.org
• Via the Children’s Single Point of Access
• By filling in a referral form for the LADO (please note this must be emailed securely. Full guidance is on the form)

If a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm you must follow the guidance in the ‘Report a concern’ section .