LADO Managing Allegations

In order to manage allegations against professionals, every Local Authority appoints a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). The LADO works within Children’s Services 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 a child, 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 they may not be suitable to work with children (Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018)

In this context, the term “professional” includes paid employees, volunteers, casual/agency staff and self-employed workers who will have contact with children as a part of their role. The LADO ensures that all allegations or concerns about professionals or adults working or volunteering with children are recorded appropriately, monitored and progressed in a timely and confidential way. The LADO is involved from the initial phase of the allegation through to the conclusion of the case. The LADO provides advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations, liaising with the police and other agencies and monitoring the progress of cases to ensure that they are dealt with as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough and fair process

Reporting Allegations/Concerns

  1. Any allegation should be reported immediately to a senior manager within your organisation. The LADO should also be informed within one working day of all allegations that come to an employer’s attention or that are made directly to the police. The LADO must also be informed of any assessments/allegations about a professional's personal /family life which could suggest that they may be a risk to children with whom they are working.
     
  2. All cases will be subject to an initial joint evaluation discussion between the LADO and referring agency, involving relevant sectors as and when appropriate including, the Police, Children’s social work services, employers and regulatory bodies. The assessment will focus on the nature of the concern, safeguarding for the particular child/children and appropriate consideration for the professional/volunteer involved. An allegation Against Staff and Volunteers meeting (ASV) will be convened where necessary to agree an appropriate way forward, in other cases (low level), guidance will be given by the LADO to the setting where the alleged staff member works, about conducting an internal investigation. Consultation should take place with the LADO before the internal investigation starts.
     
  3. The protection of a child/young person will be the prime consideration in the process of managing an allegation .The child/young person’s involvement in the process including support and feedback will be given careful consideration with the LADO ensuring that the child’s voice is heard.
     
  4. For the professional involved, the assessment and subsequent action will be stressful whatever the outcome and support for each individual must be considered and acted upon.
     
  5. If an organisation removes an individual (paid worker or unpaid volunteer) from work such as looking after children (or would have, had the person not left first) because the person poses a risk of harm to children, the organisation must make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
LADO Threshold Matrix [PDF] (file size 183.67 KB)
file type icon LSCP safer organisations checklist


The LSCP has responsibility for ensuring there are clear arrangements for dealing with allegations made against people who work with children.

How to contact the LADO:

  1. Please complete a LADO referral form for any consultation / referral to LADO. This form is the initial method of contact with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). This form must be filled out before a telephone consultation is held.

  2. The Duty LADO will call you back on receiving the referral form or within at least within 24 working hours.  After a discussion with the referrer, a decision will be made as whether the to LADO threshold is met or not, and guidance will be given about next steps.

file type icon LADO referral form

 

Consultation and advice can be sought via the Safeguarding Service in the relevant local authority from a duty LADO.
A duty rota is in place but a duty LADO may not always be immediately available to respond to a call or referral, however referrals should be responded to within 24 hours.

Please do not send LADO referrals to individual members of staff unless specifically requested to do so and always cc the LADO inbox if you do. This ensures that matters are picked up in the event that a member of staff is not available. 

LADO Contacts:

Kensington and Chelsea
Please call 0207 361 2120 and ask to speak to the Duty LADO
Email [email protected]

Westminster
Please call 020 7641 7668 and ask to speak to the Duty LADO
Email [email protected]

Named LADO:
Aqualma Daniel 
Safer Organisations Manager & Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) RBKC and Westminster
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea / City of Wesminster

Tel : 07870481712
Email [email protected] 

LADO Manager
Sally Smith
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea / City of Westminster

Tel: 07967 764 794
Email: [email protected] 



The LADO service will provide advice, guidance and help to determine whether a concern or allegation sits within the scope of safeguarding procedures. They have responsibility for ensuring the workforce is safe by managing allegations of abuse or misconduct of professionals working with children, offering advice and making referrals to the relevant bodies as appropriate.

The LADO service is responsible for raising awareness and understanding of safe working practices and safer recruitment, share learning based on experiences, to ensure that practice and services are constantly improved, help establish and aid an understanding of baselines from which we can measure the impact of services on children or young people. The LADO service is also responsible for identifying gaps in service and service standards and reporting these to the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership.

Worried about a child or young person?

If you want to report any abuse or discuss concerns in relation to children and young people please contact:


In an emergency call the police on 999.