Achieving for Children (AfC) Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Service
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 them or could cause them harm. In Achieving for Children there is a LADO service which provides this role and support, across Richmond and Kingston.
Please find link below for information about LADOs role including their leaflet.
The LADO’s key role is to:
- Provide advice and guidance to employers or voluntary organisations
- Liaise with police and other agencies including Ofsted and professional bodies, such as the General Medical Council and the Teaching Regulation Agency
- Monitor the progress of referrals to ensure they are dealt with as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough and fair process
- Seek to resolve any inter-agency issues
- Collect strategic data and maintain a confidential database in relation to allegations
- Disseminate learning from LADO enquiries throughout the children’s workforce
What will the LADO Service advise you when you refer an allegation?
- Whether the allegation meets the threshold for LADO involvement
- Offer guidance on next steps (involvement of other agencies or internal disciplinary)
- How to manage talking about the concerns with the adult who may have harmed the child
- How to inform the child’s parents or carers
- Their view regarding suspension, although the decision rests with the employer
Key points
- Regardless of the nature of the allegations and who receives the allegation, it must be reported to the LADO Service immediately. This must also include situations where the worker resigns. Compromise agreements are not acceptable in such circumstances and may put others at risk in the future.
- Complaints procedures are separate to the allegations process and just because someone does not wish to make a complaint, this does not mean the allegation should not be considered and investigated.
- Unless the allegation is found to be false or malicious, records should be kept for 10 years.
- LADO procedures may also apply to an individual who works with children, but the allegations or concerns arise in their private life.
- All settings should have an up-to-date managing allegations or whistle blowing policy.
- Do not investigate the matter, question the victim, alleged perpetrator or potential witnesses without a consultation with the LADO Service.
- Ensure children are safeguarded, make a referral to the SPA/MASH if required.
- The LADO Service is available to offer advice and support on any safeguarding or managing allegation matters, so if in doubt, always make a call to the service.
LADO procedure flowchart
Make a referral to the AFC LADO Service (Local Authority Designated Officer)
Allegations against staff and volunteers (ASV) referral form (opens a new window)
Meet the Team:
Mandy Burrows:
Mandy manages LADO Services for Achieving for Children. Mandy leads on more complex cases, and operations. She delivers internal and external LADO training, and works with the Safeguarding Children's Partnerships across the two operational areas. In addition to this role Mandy is a Regional LADO on the National LADO Group.
Julie Fisher:
The Referral and Contact Officer is Julie Fisher, who manages all calls and consultations into the LADO Service. Julie provides advice and support and will agree next steps for the contact, which may lead to a referral.
Jacqueline Alsop 
Once a referral is received and it is agreed LADO support will be provided, Jacqueline will be the named LADO managing the referral and ongoing support. Jacqueline chairs most Allegations Against Staff and Volunteer (ASV) meetings.
We work to the London Child Protection Procedures and Practice Guidelines (opens a new window)
Useful links
Contact the LADO
Email: LADO@achievingforchildren.org.uk
Phone: 020 8891 7370
Kingston and Richmond SPA: 020 8547 5008