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1.6 Allegations Against Staff, Carers & Volunteers

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RELATED PROCEDURES

Local Practice Guidance has been produced and is available from the Milton Keynes Council website.

School staff should also read the following chapter in conjunction with Milton Keynes Council's Model Child Protection Policy for Schools & Settings, Keeping Children Safe in Education.

If you have concerns please email: LADO@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Or call Business Support 01908 254300 and ask for the LADO.

Contents

1. Scope

These procedures for managing allegations against people who work with children are overarching inter-agency procedures and should be used in conjunction with each individual agency's own policies and guidance.

This procedure applies whenever it is alleged that a person who works with children has, in any connection with her/his employment or voluntary activity:

2. What should practitioners do?

Anybody who has concerns about a practitioner working or volunteering with children should discuss their concerns with their manager, and/or their organisation’s Designated Safeguarding Lead. This discussion should help to clarify whether the criteria for making a LADO notification has been met. If so, any practitioner can make a notification using the form on the Milton Keynes Council website: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/children-young-people-families/children-s-social-care/the-role-of-the-lado-local-authority-designated-officer

If it is still unclear whether the criteria has been met after this discussion, practitioners can contact the LADO on 01908 254300 for further advice

3. What is the LADO?

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is the person who should be notified when it has been alleged that a someone works with children 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; or
  • Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates she or he 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 role involves having oversight of allegations about practitioners which meet the above criteria, ensuring that these allegations or concerns about adults working or volunteering with children are recorded appropriately, monitored and progressed in a timely and confidential way. It is also important to ensure that the voice of the child or young person is heard and taken into account at every stage.

 

The responsibilities of the local authority in relation to the LADO role are outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children statutory guidance produced by the Department for Education.

4. Once a LADO notification is accepted

4.1

A notification will be accepted by the LADO if it meets the above criteria set

Notifications will be subject to an initial evaluation and, where appropriate, involvement of other sectors including the police, social care, employers and regulatory bodies. The initial evaluation will focus on the nature of the concern, safeguarding for the particular child and appropriate consideration for the practitioner concerned. Inter-agency Managing Allegations Meetings are also convened by the LADO to manage specific situations.

Each agency should use their own procedures to investigate an allegation. The LADO will offer guidance around any safeguarding concerns, for example an individual’s contact with children while the allegations are being investigated.

5. Urgent Child Protection Concerns

5.1

Urgent child protection concerns should be discussed with:

Milton Keynes Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

Telephone 9am - 5pm: 01908 253169/70

6. Key contacts and further information

6.1

 

If you want to know more about the LADO role, or managing allegations against staff, The Local Authority Designated Officers in Milton Keynes can be contacted Monday to Friday on 01908 254300 or email LADO@milton-keynes.gov.uk
 6.2

The following can be accessed via the Milton Keynes Council website:

  • LADO referral form
  • Practice Guidance
  • LADO One-minute guide 

https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/children-young-people-families/children-s-social-care/the-role-of-the-lado-local-authority-designated-officer
This page is correct as printed on Wednesday 16th of June 2021 09:06:59 PM please refer back to this website (http://mkscb.procedures.org.uk) for updates.
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