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Allegations against those who work with children and the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023 sets out clear guidance about what should happen if an allegation of abuse is made against a person who works with children.   

This is supported locally by the Swindon Safeguarding Partnerships guidance on allegation management. 

What is a LADO?

Every local authority has a statutory responsibility to have a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who is responsible for co-ordinating the response to concerns that an adult who works with children may have caused harm or could cause harm to children and young people.

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) works within Children’s Services and gives advice and guidance to employers, organisations and other individuals who have concerns about the behaviour of an adult who works with children and young people.

Included in this group are volunteers, agency staff, child minders and foster carers as well as people who are in a position of authority and have regular contact with children.

The LADO is the point of contact in Swindon if there is an allegation about an adult who works or volunteers with children within Swindon.

Any allegation against a person who works with children should be reported immediately to a senior manager within the organisation who will assess and contact the LADO where necessary.

Each organisation should have their own policy and procedures for managing allegations and concerns and how to report these. 

What is the allegation management threshold?

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

Allegations that meet the above threshold, need to be referred to the LADO within one working day of the allegation being made and before any further investigation is made.

Allegations of historical abuse should be responded to in the same way as contemporary concerns. In such cases, it is important to find out whether the person against whom the allegation is made is still working with children and if so, to inform the person's current employer or voluntary organisation or refer their family for assessment.

What the LADO does

  • The LADO provides advice and guidance to employers and others who are concerned about an adult who works with children including volunteers and agency staff
  • The LADO will liaise with the police and other organisations and agencies to monitor the progress of cases and ensure that they are dealt with in a timely way, consistent with a thorough and fair process
  • The LADO will arrange and chair Allegation Management Meetings where the allegation warrants a meeting to be held
  • The LADO will ensure that measures are in place to prevent further harm or abuse and that where required, referrals are made to the appropriate social care team or regulatory body

What the LADO does not do

  • Conduct investigations
  • Have direct communication with the person subject of the allegation
  • Provide legal/HR advice to employers

Useful resources

Contact details

The Allegation Management team forms part of the Quality Assurance and Review Service within Childrens Services at Swindon Borough Council. The team can be contacted between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Thursday and 9.00am to 4.30pm on Friday. There is a LADO available each working day.