👤 What is the LADO?
Every local authority must designate a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to manage allegations against professionals and volunteers who work with children. The LADO role is set out in KCSIE 2025 Part 4.
The LADO:
- ▸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 as quickly as possible
- ▸Chairs strategy discussions and evaluates the strength of evidence
- ▸Advises on whether a DBS barred list referral is required at the conclusion
⚖️ Referrable Allegations vs Low-Level Concerns
KCSIE 2025 is clear: employers must refer to the LADO when an allegation is made against a person who works with children that indicates they may have:
- ▸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
- ▸Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children
- ▸Behaviour that doesn't meet the threshold above but causes concern
- ▸Examples: unduly familiar language, boundary issues, sharing personal information
- ▸Handled internally — log in staff safeguarding file, address with individual
- ▸Multiple low-level concerns about the same person may escalate to referral
If in doubt whether an allegation is referrable, always consult the LADO. You do not need certainty to call — the LADO's role is to advise.
📋 The 5-Step Process
Protect the child immediately if they are at risk. Consider whether the person should be removed from contact with children while the matter is considered. Do NOT investigate before consulting LADO.
Contact your local authority LADO as soon as possible — ideally the same day, within 1 working day at most. The LADO will advise on next steps.
LADO convenes a strategy discussion with police, children's social care, and the employer. A decision is made whether a criminal investigation, disciplinary process, or both should proceed.
Employer conducts disciplinary investigation in parallel with any police investigation. LADO monitors progress and chairs further strategy meetings as needed. Target: resolved within one month.
LADO closes the case and advises on outcome. If the person is dismissed or leaves in circumstances where they would otherwise have been dismissed, employer must make a DBS barred list referral.
💼 Common Scenarios — What Requires LADO Referral?
- ▸Teacher found with inappropriate images of children on a device
- ▸Staff member in a relationship with a former pupil (under 18)
- ▸Volunteer seen striking or physically restraining a child inappropriately
- ▸Coach sharing personal phone number privately with a child
- ▸Teaching assistant who hugs students in a way that causes concern
- ▸Supply teacher reported by a child for making inappropriate comments
- ▸Staff member arrested for domestic abuse involving children in the household
- ▸Staff member who frequently gives individual children lifts home (boundary issue)
- ▸Teacher who overshares personal problems with a class
- ▸Volunteer who is always talking about how much a child "loves" them
⏸️ Suspension: When Is It Appropriate?
KCSIE 2025 is clear that suspension is not an automatic response to an allegation — it should be considered on a case-by-case basis. It is not a neutral act and can cause significant harm to the individual.
- ▸Consider whether the person can be redeployed temporarily away from children
- ▸Suspension should be considered if the allegation is serious, if there is a risk to children, or if evidence could be compromised
- ▸The LADO should be consulted before the decision to suspend is made
- ▸Where a person is suspended, provide them with a named contact for welfare support
🔎 Finding Your LADO
Every local authority publishes their LADO contact. Search "[your local authority] LADO contact" or look on your authority's children's services website.