Managing Allegations: Working Effectively with the LADO

Overview

Managing allegations and safeguarding concerns about adults working with children requires a clear understanding of the LADO process, organisational responsibilities and the actions that should be taken when a concern first arises.

This three-hour live online seminar provides a practical exploration of how allegations and concerns about adults working with children should be recognised, considered and managed. Participants will explore when the allegations process may apply, when consultation with or referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) may be required, and how organisations can work effectively with the LADO and other agencies throughout the process.

The seminar considers the responsibilities of employers and organisations alongside the role of the LADO, helping participants understand how to respond appropriately while protecting children, maintaining appropriate records and avoiding actions that could compromise safeguarding, police or employment processes, and combines safeguarding principles with practical insight drawn from experience of managing allegations and advising organisations working with children.

Course Content

The seminar explores the framework for managing allegations and safeguarding concerns involving adults who work or volunteer with children. Participants will consider the circumstances in which the allegations process may apply and how to distinguish situations requiring LADO involvement from other concerns that may need to be managed through different organisational processes.

Participants will examine the initial response when an allegation or concern arises, including immediate safeguarding considerations, what information can appropriately be established at the outset, recording requirements and the importance of avoiding unnecessary investigation before appropriate safeguarding advice has been obtained.

The role of the LADO will be explored in detail, including consultation and referral, the information organisations may need to provide, how decisions are reached and how employers and safeguarding partners work together as concerns progress. Participants will also consider their own organisational responsibilities and the importance of clear communication and information sharing.

The seminar will examine how safeguarding processes interact with employment, disciplinary and other organisational procedures. It will also consider professional boundaries and lower-level concerns, including the importance of recording and reviewing information where individual incidents may contribute to a developing pattern of concern.

Throughout the session, attention will be given to maintaining a child-centred approach while ensuring that allegations are managed fairly, proportionately and in accordance with appropriate safeguarding processes.

Practice Application

Participants will work with realistic scenarios and case examples to consider how concerns should be managed from the point at which information first becomes known.

The scenarios will support participants to consider immediate safeguarding actions, what information should and should not be gathered, when LADO consultation or referral may be appropriate, what information should be recorded and shared, and who may need to be involved in subsequent decisions.

Common difficulties and mistakes in managing allegations will also be explored, helping participants develop greater confidence in working effectively with the LADO and responding to concerns in a coordinated, proportionate and child-focused way.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the seminar, participants will be able to:

• Understand the purpose of the allegations process and the role of the Local Authority Designated Officer.

• Recognise circumstances in which consultation with or referral to the LADO may be appropriate.

• Understand the responsibilities of employers and organisations when an allegation or safeguarding concern arises.

• Identify appropriate immediate actions while avoiding steps that could compromise subsequent enquiries.

• Understand the importance of effective recording, information sharing and communication throughout the process.

• Understand how safeguarding processes may interact with employment and disciplinary procedures.

• Recognise the significance of professional boundaries, lower-level concerns and emerging patterns.

• Work more confidently and effectively with the LADO and other safeguarding partners when managing concerns about adults working with children.

Intended Audience

This seminar is suitable for professionals who may receive, respond to or oversee allegations and safeguarding concerns involving adults who work with children. This may include Registered Managers, Deputy Managers, Responsible Individuals, Nominated Individuals, Designated Safeguarding Leads, Service Managers, fostering managers, senior practitioners, HR professionals and safeguarding leads. It is relevant to children’s homes, supported accommodation, fostering services and other organisations working with children and young people.

Course Facilitator

Paul James has an extensive background in safeguarding children with a career spanning more than 25 years. He’s a qualified and registered social worker and is currently the LADO for a local authority in the South East of England and was Co-Chair of a Regional LADO network.  In a previous role he led on developing safeguarding practice in schools for a local authority.
Paul is passionate about delivering high quality training and consultancy services to a wide range of organisations. He’s had the privilege of working with schools, fostering agencies, childrens services and local government organisations.  He has also partnered with a number of private, voluntary and independent sector organisations including many large sports, youth and faith groups. He’s supported thousands of professionals and volunteers to develop their safeguarding knowledge and skills and enabled them to contribute to a safeguarding culture.
For a several years Paul was a lead trainer for a Local Safeguarding Children Partnership and was known for delivering sensitive and challenging content in an engaging and accessible way. Delegates often comment on his compelling training style and his use of real life case examples to draw out valuable learning.  Paul's approach is characterised by collaboration and a firm commitment to values which ensures all stakeholders are actively involved in creating safer environments for children and vulnerable adults .  
As well as his professional experience Paul has supported a large Catholic Diocese as a member of their safeguarding commission and is  a School Governor and Safeguarding link Governor for a large primary school.