Managing allegations against adults working with children (for professionals)
Local Authority Designated Officers (LADOs) have the responsibility of managing and overseeing allegations made against those who work or volunteer with children. If the allegation relates to the person in their personal life, for example, as a parent/relative/friend, a MASH referral should be made. However, if the allegation relates to their working/volunteering role, you should instead make a LADO referral or request LADO advice directly from the LADO Service. The contact details are:
- LADO helpline: 01392 384964
- secure email address: ladosecure-mailbox@devon.gcsx.gov.uk.
Procedure once an incident has occurred or an allegation has been made
Once you have been made aware of an incident/allegation it is advisable that you initially discuss the details with your Designated Senior Manager or the Designated Child Protection Officer for your organisation and record/log the details in your relevant records.
If you consider a LADO referral is needed gather all relevant information, to include:
- the name, date of birth and home address of the ADULT connected to the allegation/incident
- the child/childrens’ details, as LADO procedures cannot begin without this information.
We will also need your name, your organisation’s address and the role you have in your organisation.
Once this information is available, please ring Exeter (01392) 384964. The LADO Administrator will take the details of the incident/allegation and contact the Duty LADO to pass them the details of the incident/allegation. Alternatively please fill out the online referral form.
The Duty LADO will give advice on how to proceed and/or recommend an allegations management strategy meeting for further investigation, which will include police consultation.
If the decision is to set up an allegations management strategy meeting, the LADO Administrator will send you details informing you of the meeting date, time and venue and also of the LADO Chairing the meeting, who would be proceeding with the case.
If you consider an incident or allegation to be an emergency, and that a child/ children may be in danger of immediate harm, you may wish to consider in the first instance contacting either the police on 999 or the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub on 0345 155 1071 or via email mashsecure@devon.gcsx.gov.uk.