1.6 Allegations Against Staff, Carers & Volunteers

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is the person who should be notified when there are allegations against a person who works with children that is paid, unpaid, volunteers, casual, agency or anyone self-employed.

They work independently of agencies to be able to review and ensure the safeguarding of children whereby they are cared for by people who are in a position of trust.

Positions of trust

People can be considered to be in a ‘position of trust’ where they are likely to work with children as part of their employment or voluntary work.

Positions of trust may include, but are not limited to any staff working on behalf of:

• Social care
• Health services
• Police and criminal justice
• Housing
• Education/nurseries
• Voluntary agencies
• Local clubs and groups

The LADO is responsible for:

• Providing advice, information and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations around allegations and concerns regarding paid and unpaid workers.
• Managing and overseeing individual cases from all partner agencies.
• Ensuring the child’s voice is heard and that they are safeguarded.
• Ensuring there is a consistent, fair and thorough process for all adults working with children and young people against whom an allegation is made.
• Monitoring the progress of cases to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible.
• Recommending a Notification and chairing the Managing Allegations Meeting in cases where the allegation requires investigation by police and/or social care.
• The LADO does not lead an investigation but draws together evidence and information provided by the relevant agencies.

The LADO is involved from the initial phase of the allegation through to the conclusion of the case,

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.

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:

• Behaved in a way that has 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     (Ref: DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education )

There may also be a situation of persistent low-level concerns that needs to be discussed with the LADO, that raises concerns about conduct and suitability.

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 unclear whether the criteria has been met after this discussion, practitioners can contact the LADO on 01908 254307 for further advice

The LADO must be contacted within one working day in respect of all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children 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; or
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children; or
• behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children.

The LADO is available to discuss any concerns and to assist you in deciding whether you need to make a referral and/or take any immediate management action to protect a child.

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 child and appropriate consideration for the practitioner concerned. Inter-agency Managing Allegations Meetings are also convened by the LADO to manage specific situations.

There may be up to three strands in the consideration of an allegation:

• A Police investigation of a possible criminal offence;
• Enquiries and assessment by children’s social care about whether a child is in need of protection or in need of services;
• Consideration by an employer of disciplinary action in respect of the individual.

If the investigation is not being led by the Police, each agency should use their own procedures to investigate an allegation internally with LADO oversight. The LADO will offer guidance around any safeguarding concerns, for example an individual’s contact with children while the allegations are being investigated. In addition, advice on support for the person the allegation has been made against.

Urgent child protection concerns should be discussed with:

Milton Keynes Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH)

Telephone 9am - 5pm: 01908 253169/70

Out of hours: Emergency Social Work Team 01908 265545

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 254307 or email LADO@milton-keynes.gov.uk

The documents listed below can be accessed via the Milton Keynes Council website at: https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/children-young-people-families/children-s-social-care/the-role-of-the-lado-local-authority-designated-officer 

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