1. The Role of The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Interim Head of Safeguarding & Quality Assurance
(From Feb 2018)
County LADO Manager
(October 2016 – January 2018)
KCC Local Authority Designated Officer
(May 2014 – October 2016)
KCC Independent Reviewing Officer
(March 2005 – May 2014)
KCC Children and Families Team Manager
(August 2001 – March 2005)
Social Worker/Senior Practitioner
(July 1995 – August 2001)

2. Local Authority Designated Officer
From Working Together 2015
Local authorities should have designated a particular officer, or team of officers (either as part of multi-agency arrangements or otherwise), to be involved in the management and oversight of allegations against people that work within the wider children’s workforce

3. Allegation Management
Any person who works within the wider children’s workforce falls into the LADO remit
Safeguarding

4. An allegation may relate to a person who works with children who has:
What is an Allegation?
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; or
Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children
All allegations (and where you are unsure) must be notified to the LADO within 1 working day (24 hours)
Discuss the use of Consultation

5. The Wider Children’s Workforce may include the employer of:
Types of referrals
The Wider Children’s Workforce may include the employer of:
Schools and colleges
Early years and childcare
Fostering including Independent Fostering Associations and Residential Care
Health professionals
Faith organisations
Voluntary agencies including private sectors
Allegations may include physical, sexual, inappropriate conduct, external (e.g. care of own child), RBA

6. Total no. of referrals to the LADO Service 2016-2017:
Figures
Total no. of referrals to the LADO Service :
1997
Allegations = 656
Consultations = 1341

7. Referral Data
April – September 2017

8. Allegation Categories in Kent

9. Allegation Management
Advise on making a referral to Specialist Children’s Services or the Police
Informing HR or other relevant personnel
Attending the strategy discussion or liaising with the chair
Ensuring that appropriate advice is given to senior management about suspension and referral to the regulatory body
Ensuring that learning from cases is recorded for senior management

10. Additional Liaisons
Education – Head teachers and Designated Safeguarding Leads, Schools’ Personnel, Education Safeguarding Team
Police – Professional Standards Department
Public Protection Unit
Ofsted
DBS
External Local Authorities
Health Safeguarding Leads
Press Office

11. Is there an allegation against someone who works within the wider children's workforce?
Call the LADO for advice
The LADO referral forms are available at -
KELSI: safeguarding/managing-staff-allegations &
KSCB: authority-designated-officer-lado
LADO Referrals should be made via a LADO referral form and sent to

12. The Process -if one of the criteria seems to be met
The LADO will consider with you if the allegation is:
demonstrably false or malicious
complaint or allegation
current or historical
inappropriate behaviour
poor practice
reasonable restraint
significant harm
criminal act

13. The process (cont.)
The LADO will consider with you the need to find out more information at this stage and who may be best placed to do this:
The following may need to be considered either prior to or within an Initial Strategy Discussion
Police investigation of possible offence
Children’s Social Care enquiries or investigation
Consideration of disciplinary action/capability/suitability procedures
Is suspension necessary or appropriate

14. The LADO will additionally consider with you:
The process (cont.)
The LADO will additionally consider with you:
A discussion about informing parents may need to be immediate if child needs medical care but needs to be as soon as possible
Employer informs accused person as soon as possible but needs to take into account Police and Specialist Children’s Services investigations – timing of communication must be agreed by all parties
Common sense and judgement
Are there media implications? (LADO or the employer may need to brief the Press Office)
Question in order to clarify rather than investigate
Clarify support and process to the child and informant (if not the same)
Record all information to ensure a clear audit trail of advice and decision making

15. Strategy Discussions
Must invite the LADO, Employer and (as appropriate in addition to SCS and Police) Fostering Social Worker, associated HR, Health, Ofsted, Independent Reviewing Officer, Practice Development Officer
Will consider (in addition to decisions about and planning S47):
Allegation and context
History of professional and previous allegations
History of alleged victim and previous allegations
Immediate and further risk and required action
Timescales of investigation processes and information sharing
Any additional professional/voluntary involvements with children and required action
Support needs for key parties and witnesses
Whether to initiate Complex Abuse Procedure

16. Additional Considerations
The employer has the power to suspend if:
A child or children would be at risk
It is necessary to allow any investigation to continue unimpeded
The allegation is so significant that if proven, dismissal for Gross Misconduct is the likely outcome
The employer should consider alternatives to suspension:
Leave of absence (gardening leave)
Undertaking different duties which do not involve direct contact with the individual child or children

17. Action on Conclusion of a Case and Learning Lessons
Substantiated
False
Malicious
Unfounded
Unsubstantiated
Consider an Evaluation Meeting
Consider DBS referral
Substantiated – there is sufficient identifiable information to prove the allegation
False – there is sufficient evidence to disprove the allegation
Malicious – there is clear evidence to prove there has been a deliberate act to deceive and the allegation has been entirely false
Unfounded – there is no evidence or proper basis which supports the allegation being made. It might indicate that the person making the allegation misinterpreted the incident or was mistaken about what they saw. Alternatively they may not have been aware or all the circumstances
Unsubstantiated - An unsubstantiated allegation is not the same as a false allegation. It means that there is insufficient evidence to prove or disprove the allegation. The term, therefore, does not imply guilt or innocence.

18. Allegation Outcomes
April - September 2017

19. Timescales
In line with Working Together to Safeguard Children/Keeping Children Safe in Education and Kent’s own guide to Managing Allegations Against Members of Staff the following targets should be achieved in all but truly exceptional cases:
80 % of cases should be resolved within one month
90 % within three months, and
All but the most exceptional cases should be completed within 12 months.
LADO will undertake to make additional follow up contact with the referrer at 4 weeks to ensure regular review of any investigations.
Allegation records should be kept on file for 10 years; it should be 10 years from the date of the allegation OR until the person has reached normal retirement age if that is longer (65)
Only Substantiated allegations can be used in references for departing staff

20. Who are the LADOs in Kent?
Call the LADO
Jinder Pal Kaur – Interim County LADO Manager
Emma Cumberbatch - LADO Contact and Referral Officer and PA to LADO Manager
Jane Davey – LADO Contact and Referral Officer
Yetunde Areeson - LADO
Cassandra Michael - Agency LADO
Marta Salavera - LADO
Lorrisa Webber - LADO

21. Useful Information
Search KELSI … allegations
For information on:
Safeguarding procedures for managing allegations against staff
Early years allegation against staff policy
DfE guidance: dealing with allegations of abuse against school staff
A guide for staff and volunteers who are facing an allegation of abuse Allegation record and outcome form
Guidance for safer working practice for adults who work with children and young people in education
Allegations relating to the wider children's workforce (LADO)
Protocol for managing allegations against the wider children's workforce
Additional policies and Guidance:
Children Acts 1989 and 2004
The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011
Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards
Working Together to Safeguard children 2015
Keeping children safe in Education 2016