1. Local Designated Officer (LADO) LBB
Rita Dada
Local Designated Officer (LADO) LBB
2017

2. LADO Presentation
Procedures for Managing Allegations Against People Who Work With Children In Bromley
The Role of LADO

3. Statutory Framework
All organisations which provide services for children or provide staff or volunteers to work with or care for children should operate a procedure for handling allegations which is consistent with the guidance in of Working Together.
Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004
Working Together To Safeguard Children- Appendix 5
Chapter 7 of the London Child Protection Procedures, (5th Edition 2015)

4. The Criteria for Allegation Procedures
Applies to all cases where 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 (professional or private)
Possibly committed a criminal offence
Indicates s/he would pose a risk of harm if they work regularly or closely with children

5. The Criteria for Allegation Procedures
Applicable to all Bromley staff:
Employed by Bromley (paid or unpaid)
Working through agencies
Volunteers
The list is endless : Schools ( Head teachers, SLT, TA, etc.), nurseries, foster carer’s, care homes, child minders, clubs, health, football coaches, girl guide/boys scout, fencing coaches, SEN drivers/escorts etc.

6. Reporting Allegations
When a concern has been raised about a person working with children and young people that meets the criteria, the concern should be reported immediately to:
The senior manager within the organisation with designated responsibility for managing allegations
The Head teacher or Principal of the educational establishment
The Team Manager of the supervising social worker

7. Reporting Allegations
All concerns that meet the criteria must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within 1 working day.
Do not investigate the allegation or promise confidentiality.
The LADO will discuss the matter with the employer and consider the available information/evidence.
All staff members should be aware of who the designated leader is and who to contact in their absence to avoid delay in referral . They should also be aware of the process and timescale of referral. Organisations could be investigated further if its felt that there has been a delay in a matter such as safeguarding. This could be a training issue.

8. Role of the LADO The Local Authority Designated Officer:
Assesses and reviews the referrals and decides if a STRAT investigation is required.
Organises, investigates and chairs the STRAT.
Manages and has oversight of individual cases
Provides advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations
Liaises with the police and other agencies
Monitors the progress of cases to ensure they are dealt with fairly, consistently and quickly.
There is need for a quick and fair assessment / outcome especially when a member of staff has been suspended.

9. The Role of the LADO
The LADO will have to consider whether the evidence suggests the need for:
A police investigation of a possible criminal offence
Enquiries and assessment by Children’s Social Care - whether a child is in need of protection or in need of services
Strategy meeting
Advise on disciplinary action of an accused person.
Where there is cause to suspect a child is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm the LADO will immediately refer to children’s social care and arrange for a strategy meeting to be convened.
Where there is cause to suspect a criminal offence has been committed the LADO will immediately refer to the police Child Protection Investigation Team (CAIT) and arrange for a strategy meeting to decide whether a joint police and social care investigation is needed.

10. Complex Strategy Meeting ( STRAT)
A multi-agency meeting is convened:
There is enough information to suggest a child may have been harmed or a criminal offence may have been committed
To scope, gather, share information and plan and direct the investigation which could also end up as an internal management investigation.

11. The Subject of the Allegation
The employer must first consult with the LADO before advising the subject that an allegation has been made.
The LADO will liaise with the police and children’s social care to establish when the subject of an allegation can be advised of the allegation and how much detail can be shared.
If the subject is a member of a union or professional association s/he should be advised to contact that body.

12. The Subject of the Allegation
The power to suspend is vested in the employer alone.
People should not be suspended without careful thought.
If the subject is suspended then the employer must make arrangements to keep the individual informed of developments in the workplace.
The employer has a duty of care and must offer the subject appropriate support while the case is ongoing.

13. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks
A police investigation will show on any subsequent DBS checks carried out on the person.
If the investigation did not result in the person being cautioned or convicted the investigation will show only when an enhanced DBS check is carried out.
If a person is the subject of an allegation that is investigated by the police it is likely the investigation will show on any subsequent CRB checks carried out on the person.
If following an investigation the allegation is substantiated and the employer dismisses the person, the employer should consult with the LADO to discuss whether a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required. If referral is appropriate the report should be made within one month

14. Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Referral
Following a substantiated investigation and the employer dismisses the person, a discussion with the LADO should occur to decide whether a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service is required within one month.
A referral must always be made if the employer believes the individual has harmed or poses a risk of harm to children or vulnerable adults.

15. Preventing Allegations
Polices and Procedures
Child Protection
Safeguarding systems and processes(children and adults)
Allegation Management
Physical Intervention/Intimate Care
Safer working Practices/Codes of Conduct
Training, information sharing and supervision

16. Preventing Allegations
Training
Induction and Rolling programme/update
Safeguarding – Policies and procedures
Use of force to restrain
De-escalation techniques
Behaviour Management
Working with challenging behaviour /lone working

17. Allegations in Bromley April 2015 - March 2016
There were 193 referrals relating to allegations against people who work with children:
83 of these were allegations against education staff.
22 related to secondary school staff
47 related to primary school staff
1 related to Independent School staff
10 related to staff in a Special School
3 from a college

18. Allegations in Bromley April 2015 - March 2016
19 were against Foster Carers
25 related to staff in Nurseries/Playgroup
2 from child minders
26 were against staff from Health
8 were against Social Care staff
0 against staff working for a Voluntary Organisation
6 were against uniformed organisations
4 were from a secure/residential unit
15 were against others

19. Allegations in Bromley April 2015 - March 2016
Category of Abuse/Concern
Physical 105
Sexual 24
Emotional 19
Inappropriate Behaviour 27
Neglect 18
How is behaviour broken down?

20. Summary
All staff should be clear on roles including Board of Governors and trustees.
All first line managers must have training in managing allegations
Follow mandatory guidance
Do not investigate prior to referral
Notify LADO and Designated Lead
Is there an immediate need to contact Social Services or seek medical advise
Inform OFSTEAD
Respond fully to the process
Share learning to improve frontline practice
There are some investigations and or complaints that may require the board of governors or trustees to take the lead. Especially where the allegation is made against the head or SLT. The governors may need to act as intermediaries to de-escalate complaints.

21. Allegations in Bromley
All allegations that meet the criteria must be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). In Bromley there is a lead LADO and in the absence of the lead LADO, a member of the Quality Improvement team will step in to address an urgent matter.
The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is:
Mrs Rita Dada – or
Secure
Any questions.