LADO - Concerns About Professionals

Explanation of LADO:

Every Local Authority has a statutory requirement to have a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who is responsible for overseeing investigations into safeguarding concerns or allegations regarding an adult who works or volunteers with children and young people.

The LADO’s Key Role is to:

provide advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations
ensure allegations are handled promptly and in line with statutory guidance
liaise with relevant agencies, including the police and children’s social care
chair Allegation Management Meetings and ensure effective multi-agency communication
monitor the progress of cases to ensure resolution without undue delay
identify local themes and trends and learning from cases
identify training needs

What must be reported:

As set out in Working together to safeguard children 2026 and Keeping children safe in Education 2025 the LADO must be informed of all allegations against adults who work or volunteer with children. This applies to all paid, unpaid, volunteers, casual, agency employees or anyone working in a self-employed capacity in the BANES area. These individuals are considered working/volunteering in positions of trust.

The LADO should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works or volunteers 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 they may not be suitable to work with children.

What will happen next?

The LADO will record all concerns, including allegations or offences emanating from outside of work. They will provide advice and guidance and help determine that the allegation sits within the scope of the procedures.

Threshold for LADO involvement met:

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 Bath & North East Somerset procedures for Managing Allegations against Staff or Volunteers who work with children.

Threshold for LADO involvement not met:

If the allegation or concern does meet the Threshold for LADO involvement and oversight, the LADO will advise on next steps. No action should be taken by the employer until LADO advice has been sought. If LADO threshold is not met, this may then be addressed in line with the organisations low level concerns policy.

LADO Safeguarding Investigation Outcomes:

Substantiated – there is sufficient identifiable information to prove the allegation – this did
happen. Employer to refer to DBS and/or regulatory body if matter is serious enough to
warrant dismissal or cessation of role.
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.

Contact the LADO:

The LADO is located within Bath & North East Somerset Council. If you have concerns regarding an adult who works or volunteers with a child then this should be reported to the LADO within one working day of the concern being identified. For advice complete and return the LADO Managing Allegations Referral Form to LADO@bathnes.gov.uk

The LADO team are not able to provide advice and guidance over the telephone or via email prior to receiving a completed referral form. This includes advice regarding whether a referral meets the LADO Threshold.