LADO

Managing Allegations

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

The Buckinghamshire Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is responsible for overseeing the management of all allegations against people in a position of trust working in Buckinghamshire with children, directly or indirectly, in a paid or voluntary position when that person has or may have:

Behaved in a way that has harmed a child
Committed an 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 in a way that indicates they may be unsuitable to work with children

The LADO does not complete investigations but is involved in the management and oversight of individual cases; providing advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations, and monitoring cases to ensure that they are dealt with as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough and fair process. Further information on the LADO and how to respond to allegations can be found in the resources listed below.

Contacting the LADO

Telephone: 01296 382 070
Secure email: secure-LADO@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
The LADO office is open from 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Thursday, and from 9am – 5pm on Friday.

Form to use when making referral to LADO service

LADO Referral Form

The managing allegations against staff and volunteers procedure (7.2) can be accessed from the contents page on this link.

7.2 Managing Allegations against Staff and Volunteers Working with Children

LADO Annual Report

LADO Annual Report 2022-2023

Registered Childminders

If you are a registered childminder working as a sole trader and an allegation is made about you, you should inform Early Years by calling 01296 387111 within 24 hours.

In the first instance, Early Years will support you and consider whether the allegation meets the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) threshold and liaise directly with the LADO as appropriate.

If you are a childminder and employ someone else in a position of trust with children (such as another childminder) and you have concerns or an allegation is made about him or her, you must (in your capacity as an employer) contact the LADO on 01296 382070 or at secure-LADO@buckinghamshire.gov.uk to discuss what to do.

In either case, you should inform Ofsted if appropriate.

Safer Recruitment and Employment

All organisations working with children and young people should be proactive in reducing the risk of child abuse taking place within the services they provide by:

Developing a safeguarding ethos
Adopting safe recruitment & effective safe termination of employment practices
Ensuring all staff understand safe practice, and receive appropriate training in child protection
Ensuring all vulnerabilities expressed by staff are taken seriously and responded to at the earliest stage
Ensuring that risk assessments are undertaken following allegations to reduce the likelihood of repetition.