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LADO Allegations

LADO Allegations – Allegations Against Adults Working With Children

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) must be notified within 24 hours of any allegation or concern about an adult who works or volunteers with children in Wirral.
This requirement is set out in statutory guidance (Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023) which states that organisations must report allegations to the designated officer within one working day

📧 Contact the LADO Team: [email protected]

When to Contact the LADO

An allegation must be referred to the LADO if 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 (This reflects the “harm” threshold in statutory guidance)
  • Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
    (Criminal threshold)
  • 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 (Practice issues or Suitability or Transferrable risk)

This is known nationally as the LADO threshold.

Who Falls Under the LADO Process? (Positions of Trust)

The LADO process applies to any adult in a position of trust, including:

  • Teachers
  • Volunteers
  • Supply / agency staff
  • Contractors
  • Sports coaches and club staff
  • Faith organisation staff/volunteers
  • Youth workers
  • Foster carers
  • Prospective adopters
  • Self‑employed professionals working with children (e.g., tutors, counsellors)

Making a LADO Referral

A LADO Allegations Referral Form must be completed by the senior manager and submitted within 24 hours.

📧 Submit referrals to: [email protected]

If the LADO is unavailable, the Duty Safeguarding Team will review the referral.

LADO Form

 

If a Child Has Been Harmed (Safeguarding Route)

Where there is any indication that a child has been harmed, you must also contact the Integrated Front Door (IFD) and/or Police 101

📧 [email protected]
📞 0151 606 2008 (9am–5pm, Mon–Fri)
📞 0151 677 6557 (Out of hours)

 

What is the Role of the LADO?

The LADO DOES:

  • Determine whether the allegation meets the LADO threshold
  • Provide advice and guidance at all stages
  • Oversee and have management oversight of individual cases
  • Liaise with the police, children’s social care, Ofsted, DBS and other agencies
  • Chair LADO Allegations Management Meetings (multi‑agency planning meetings)
  • Ensure cases progress efficiently, fairly and transparently
  • Monitor key actions, set timescales, and manage the closure process

 

What the LADO Does NOT Do

  •  The LADO does not undertake investigations (these are done by the employer, police or children’s social care)
  •  The LADO does not have direct communication with the adult subject of the allegation
  •  The LADO does not have direct communication with the child or family
  • The LADO does not provide HR advice
  • The LADO does not provide support to the worker who is the subject of the allegation (support should be provided by the employer)

How Allegations Are Managed

  1. Initial Evaluation

The LADO will:

  • Review the concerns
  • Confirm whether LADO threshold is met
  • Determine next steps, including police/social care involvement
  1. Three‑Strand Approach

Where an allegation meets threshold, the case follows one or more of the three national strands:

  1. Police investigation of a possible criminal offence
  2. Children’s social care assessment regarding the child’s safety (Section 47/17)
  3. Employer-led enquiry and/or disciplinary action
  1. LADO Allegations Management Meeting

Convened for coordinated planning, information sharing and timelines.

  1. Outcomes

May include:

  • Substantiated
  • Unsubstantiated
  • Unfounded
  • Malicious
  • False
  1. Closure and learning

LADO monitors the case to conclusion and identifies learning for safeguarding improvement.

 

Historical Allegations

LADOs respond to historical allegations in the same way as current concerns, as the individual may still pose a safeguarding risk.

Statutory Responsibilities of Organisations

Working Together 2023 requires all organisations working with children to have clear policies and procedures for dealing with allegations against staff or volunteers.

 

Guidance & Resources

  • Guidance for Safer Working Practice
  • DBS Referral Form & Guidance Notes
  • Annual Report
  • 📄 WSCP Annual Report 2024
    👉 https://www.wirralsafeguarding.co.uk/the-partnership/annual-reports-business-plans/

 

Important Information

  • The LADO process does not replace safeguarding procedures.
  • If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, contact the Integrated Front Door immediately.
  • The LADO provides advice only regarding people in positions of trust.
  • The LADO cannot give advice to professionals who are subject to allegations.
  • General safeguarding enquiries:
    • 📞 0151 606 2008 (office hours)
    • 📞 0151 677 6557 (out of hours)
  • HR advice must be sought from your organisation’s HR provider.
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