Allegations Against Professionals (LADO)

Making a referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer and Possible Outcomes

The LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) provides advice and guidance to employers and other individuals/organisations who have concerns relating to an adult who works with children and young people (including volunteers, agency staff and foster carers) or who is in a position of authority and having regular contact with children (e.g. religious leaders or school governors).

There may be concerns about workers who have:

behaved in a way that has harmed 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 towards a child, or behaved in other ways that suggests they may be unsuitable to work with children

What should be referred to the LADO?

Any concern that meets the criteria above should be referred. Initially it may be unclear how serious the allegation is. If there's any doubt, the LADO or the designated safeguarding lead person in your agency should be contacted for advice.

What the LADO does:

The first step will be to offer an initial consultation about the concern. This may consist of advice and guidance regarding the most appropriate way of managing the allegation. The LADO will:

help establish what the 'next steps' should be in terms of investigating the matter further
liaise with the police and other agencies, and arrange for an allegations meeting to be held if required; if the case is complex there may be a series of meetings
monitor and maintain an overview of cases which meet threshold to ensure they're dealt with as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough and fair process
ensure child protection procedures are initiated where the child is considered to be at risk of significant harm
ensure the appropriate agencies are involved in the investigation
ensure advice is provided in relation to the adults remaining in post over the course of the investigation
ensure issues of sharing information with parents and other relevant individuals are considered
assist an employer in decisions about a person's suitability to remain in the children's workforce, and whether a referral should be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or the appropriate regulatory or professional body
In cases where the adult is unaware of the concern or allegation, it may not be appropriate to tell them immediately and may prejudice a potential police investigation. The LADO will provide advice.

Outcomes

The outcomes from a LADO referral may include:

finding that the allegation is malicious
finding that the allegation is unsubstantiated
finding that the allegation is substantiated
finding that the allegation is false
finding that the allegation is unfounded
internal investigation by the employer including consideration of disciplinary procedures
a police investigation
police prosecution
Where the adult is reinstated there may be recommendations in relation to additional support, monitoring or training.
Where an individual is dismissed from their post, a referral must be made to the DBS which makes decisions on whether individuals should be barred from working with children.
Compromise agreements are not an acceptable resolution to a concern, and even if someone resigns it should not prevent a full and thorough investigation into the matter.

LADO Procedure & Protocol - 2023

To make a referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), please email a LADO Contact & Referral Form to LewishamLADO@Lewisham.gov.uk.

Named Lewisham LADO:

Eleanor Hargadon-Lowe, London Borough of Lewisham, 1st Floor Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU

There is also a Deputy LADO system, as such you may speak with and be supported by a member of the team.

LADO Voicemail service: 020 8314 7280. Please note this is a manned voicemail, so please leave a clear message and the LADO or Deputy LADO will respond to you as soon as possible within 24 hours.

LADO Annual Reports

LADO Annual Report 2022-2023

Useful Links

London Safeguarding Children Procedures

London Safeguarding Children's Partnership

Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023

Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023