Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

What is a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and what do they do?

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is responsible for overseeing allegations against adults who work with children. The work can be paid, unpaid or voluntary.

Most people who work with children act professionally and aim to provide a safe and supportive environment for them. However, sometimes the behaviour of adults who work with or volunteer with children and young people can result in allegations being made against them.

It is never acceptable for an adult in a position of trust to harm a child. Therefore, allegations or concerns raised about people in a position of trust in relation to children are taken seriously.

The LADO can support if there's an allegation about an adult who works with children who has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed, 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 he or she 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

A concern can be in relation to the persons behaviour outside of their workplace.

However, contact the Police if you believe that a crime has been committed.

Information for parents and carers

This information is for you if information has been received which alleges that your child, or a child you care for may have been harmed by an adult working in a position of trust. A safeguarding complaint is different from a complaint about a service.

What might happen next?

1. An allegation is reported to the LADO.
2. The LADO will consider whether an allegation management meeting should be held to decide if further action is needed.
3. If it is necessary to investigate further, a decision will be made whether this will be the police, social care, an employer, or a combination of agencies.
4. The investigators may wish to meet with your child to discuss the allegation. This will be discussed with you beforehand.
5. Following the investigation, the LADO will work with other professionals to decide:
   1. Whether the person is safe to continue working with children.
   2. Whether they need help, support, or further training. 
   3. If the person has done something illegal, they may face court proceedings.
6. A decision will be made to conclude the outcome as either: Substantiated, Unsubstantiated, Unfounded, False or Malicious.
7. If an individual has been dismissed or removed from their position due to posing a risk to children, the LADO will give advice on whether referrals are needed to any regulatory bodies such as: Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills), Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA), Sports Governing Bodies, Charity Commission and other Professional Regulatory Bodies.

Information for young people

This information is for you if you have told someone that you may have been harmed by an adult who works with you or cares for you, or someone is worried that you might have been harmed by someone working with you. By this we mean someone who is paid or volunteers to work with children, such as teachers, social workers, foster carers, residential workers, people working for religious organisations, or sports coaches.

They are usually not family members, although family members can also be adults who work with children.

The LADO will consider how this might have affected you and work with others to make sure you are safe and that no one else is harmed by that person's behaviour.

The LADO might need to talk to other people like the Police, social workers and the adult's employer to get relevant information and to make sure you and other children are safe. The LADO will keep watch over any investigations and makes sure you have support.

What might happen next?

What you share is very important, and the LADO will take it seriously. You can choose someone to support you through this process, share your views on what you think should happen, and stay informed.

You can talk to anyone you trust, such as a social worker, a teacher, another professional, or an advocate from children's rights. Even if you feel worried, the people around you are here to protect and support you.

Sometimes a meeting may be held to discuss the situation and make plans to keep you and other children safe. You can choose who will share your views in this meeting.

Once the concerns have been reviewed, decisions will be made about what to do next. You will be told about any decisions that involves you.

The LADO will work with other professionals to decide:

• whether the person is safe to continue working with children
• whether they need help, support, or further training
• if the person has done something illegal, they may face court proceedings

If you would like to find out more about the role of the LADO, you can access the Gateshead Safeguarding Children's Partnership.

The LADO in Gateshead is:
Michelle Farry
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 07597 527 210