LADO - allegations against those who work or volunteer with children
If you have concerns regarding someone who works with a child including foster carers and volunteers these should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). This applies to all paid, unpaid, volunteers, casual, agency employees or anyone working in a self-employed capacity. These individuals are considered working/volunteering in positions of trust.
Allegations against staff (LADO)
If you have concerns regarding someone who works with a child including foster carers and volunteers these should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). This applies to all paid, unpaid, volunteers, casual, agency employees or anyone working in a self-employed capacity. These individuals are considered working/volunteering in positions of trust.
What must be reported
Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023’ states that the LADO must be informed of all allegations against adults who work with children.
The LADO is located within Children and Families Services in Westmorland and Furness Local Authority and should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:
- 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 or may have behaved in a way that indicates that they may not be suitable to work with children
What happens next
The LADO will record all concerns, including allegations or offences occurring from outside of work. They will provide advice and guidance and help determine that the allegation sits within the scope of the procedures.
The LADO is involved in the initial phase of the allegation through to the conclusion of the case and will provide advice and guidance to Senior Managers on the progress of cases to ensure they are resolved as quickly as possible. In addition, the LADO will help co-ordinate information sharing with the right people. They will also monitor and track any investigation with the expectation that it is resolved as quickly as possible.
See the Allegations Against Staff or Volunteers procedure.
Contact us
The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is located within Children and Families Services in both Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Local Authorities. If you have concerns regarding an adult who works with a child, then this should be reported to the LADO within one working day of the concern being identified. For advice, please email or telephone the LADO office.
To submit a referral, please complete a WFSCP LADO - position of trust referral form (PDF , 84KB)
Upon completion of the Position of Trust Referral Form, please email the referral from a secure email address. Alternatively, password protect the document before email to the LADO team.
Learn how to to password protect a document (PDF , 451KB)
Contact Details For The Westmorland & Furness LADO
Telephone: 0300 303 3897
Email: lado@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
LADO working hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
If you are worried that a child is at risk of immediate harm please contact the Westmorland and Furness Safeguarding Hub on 0300 373 2724
Follow the link to ‘Report a Concern'
Additional Resources
- WFSCP LADO: Consideration of alternative to suspension (PDF , 49KB)
- WFSCP LADO: Outcomes of allegations (PDF , 41KB)
- WFSCP LADO: Summary of allegations management procedures (PDF , 39KB)
- WFSCP LADO: Staff guide (PDF , 52KB)
- WFSCP LADO: For employers (PDF , 97KB)
- WFSCP LADO: For foster carers (PDF , 79KB)
- WFSCP LADO: For individual (PDF , 73KB)
- WFSCP LADO: For parents and carers (PDF , 90KB)
- Westmorland and Furness LADO referral threshold matrix (PDF , 160KB)