Dealing with Allegations against People Working with Children
The Halton Safeguarding Children Partnership expects all professionals and volunteers to have the highest standards of behaviour with regards to children and young people.
Moreover, every local authority has a statutory responsibility to have a local authority designated officer (LADO), who is responsible for coordinating the response to concerns that an adult who works with children may have caused them harm.
This includes those in paid employment, including temporary, casual, and agency staff; volunteers; individuals who are self-employed; prospective adopters, or adult members of their household (standard 22 Adoption: national minimum standards).
The LADO is a senior member of staff who:
- is involved in the management and oversight of individual cases which meet a certain threshold.
- provides advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations.
- liaises with the police and other agencies.
- monitors the progress of cases to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible, following a consistent, thorough, and fair process.
- Oversees potential referrals to regulatory bodies.
- Disseminates learning from LADO enquiries throughout the children’s workforce.
What must be reported?
As outlined in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023’ the LADO must be informed of all allegations against adults who work with children.
The criteria for making a report to the LADO are that a member of the Children`s Workforce or volunteer may have:
- 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 they may not be suitable to work with children.
- Behaved in a way in their personal life that raises safeguarding concerns. These concerns do not have to directly relate to a child.
- As a parent or carer, has a child that has become subject to child protection procedures.
- Is closely associated with someone in their personal lives (e.g., partner, member of the family or other household member) who may present a risk of harm to child/ren for whom the member of staff is responsible in their employment/volunteering.
Regardless of the nature of allegations and who receives the allegation, it must be reported to the LADO. This must include situations where the worker resigns. Compromise agreements are not acceptable in such circumstances and may put others at risk in the future.
What will the LADO do?
The LADO will ensure that enquiries are managed appropriately, and that information is shared between the police, social care and the employer. The LADO will discuss with the employer how the person who the allegation is about will be supported and managed whilst enquiries are being undertaken and how children will be kept safe whilst enquiries are ongoing. If it is evidenced that someone is unsafe to work with children the LADO will ensure required actions have been taken including, when necessary, referring to the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
Contact Us
If you are concerned about someone who is a professional or volunteer in the children’s workforce in relation to their conduct towards a child – either their own child or those they work with – you should raise this with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within 24 hours
All referrals must be made in writing using the LADO Consultation Form below:
- LADO Consultation Form
- LADO contact number 0151 511 7925.
To ensure that the cover arrangements for LADO are consistently responded to, all emails and or referrals should be sent to: safeguarding.adminteam@halton.gov.uk and CC your LADO using LADO@halton.gov.uk (The Admin email is manned daily Monday to Friday and therefore is the primary return email address to be used).
For further information, see Pan Cheshire Procedures online – Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers
Training
To support understanding of the new criteria and to offer a refresher around the Management of Allegations Procedure (LADO) there are training sessions available through the Training page.