Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
What is a LADO?
The LADO gives advice and guidance to employers and others who are concerned about an adult who works with children including volunteers and agency staff.
Contact: The LADO for Oxfordshire is Jo Lloyd. The LADO and Assistant LADO’S can be contacted via lado.safeguardingchildren@oxfordshire.gov.uk or call 01865 810603.
Allegations need to be referred to the team within one working day of the allegation being made and before any further investigation is made.
An allegation may relate to a person who works with children who 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 that they may not be suitable to work with children
What does the Designated officer (LADO) do?
- The LADO is involved in the oversight and management of allegations against people who work with children- paid or volunteering
- Provides advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations about the most appropriate way to manage the concern or allegation and helps to establish what the next steps should be
- LADO will determine whether threshold is met, and if not will advise and record as a consultation
- Arranges and chairs a Position of Trust meeting if required
- Monitors the progress of a case
The LADO does not investigate cases.
Key Points:
- The LADO will consult with the Police about all cases where a criminal offence may have occurred
- LADO will work with Children’s Social Care to ensure any support for children affected by the allegation
- In cases where the adult is unaware of the concern or allegation it may not be appropriate to tell them immediately – it may prejudice a possible Police investigation. The LADO will advise
- The Allegations Process applies to paid, unpaid and volunteer workers, casual or agency staff and anyone self-employed
- The LADO will also monitor and track any investigation with the expectation that it is resolved as quickly as possible. Please note if the investigation is a Police led investigation this does effect timescales, and the conclusion of the case may take much longer
- Settlement agreements are not an acceptable resolution to a concern, and even if someone resigns it should not prevent a full and thorough investigation
- On conclusion of the case, the LADO will discuss and consider with the employer if the threshold has been hit for any referrals to be made to other agencies, including referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service