How to get in touch with our Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

Every local authority has a responsibility to appoint a Local Authority Designated Officer to manage concerns and allegations against a person working or volunteering in a position of trust with children.

If you have concerns regarding someone who works with a child including foster carers and volunteers these should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). This applies to all paid, unpaid, volunteers, casual, agency employees or anyone working in a self-employed capacity.

The LADO can get involved if there is an allegation or concern that any person who works with children, in connection with their employment or voluntary activity who has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed, or may have harmed, a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against children, 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

The LADO will:

• be involved in the management and oversight of individual cases which meet the threshold
• provide advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations
• liaise with the police and other agencies including regulatory bodies such as Ofsted, General medical Council and teaching Regulation Agency
• monitor the progress of cases to ensure that they are dealt with as quickly as possible, with a thorough and fair consistent process
• seek to resolve inter-agency issues
• collect and analyse data to inform practice development within the safeguarding arrangements for children.