Role & Responsibilities of the LADO/DOS

All Local Authorities must have a designated officer who is an identified senior manager responsible and accountable for the management and monitoring of allegations/concerns against practitioners and those in positions of trust. This role will be known as the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). The LADO would normally be a registered social worker and must have the necessary skills, knowledge and extensive experience in safeguarding. The LADO role and associated functions must be established within the social services area of the local Authority. The role may be delegated to identified officers within the local authority and known as Designated Office for Safeguarding (DoS). The DOS would normally be a registered social worker and must have the necessary skills, knowledge and extensive experience in safeguarding. The designated officer for safeguarding can fulfil delegated role and functions of the LADO. This role must be based within the Social Services area of the Local Authority.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Threshold decisions
• Ensuring fairness and equity
• Promoting the voice of the child/adult at risk within the process (where required)
• Provide opportunity within Section 5 Strategy Meetings to reflect the responses, voice of the individual whom an allegation has been made against.
• Ensuring communication with the relevant social workers/managers who are undertaking Part 3 assessments/enquiries.
• Co-ordinating actions that need to be undertaken and identifying responsible individuals
• Upholding sound professional judgement in the decision making and management of all referrals that are made in relation to allegations against practitioners
• Hold employers, regulators, professional bodies to account in taking forward actions and supporting their employees throughout the process
• Provide advice and support to those making reports or seeking advice/guidance to determine whether a report should be made
• Ascertain what information individuals have been provided in relation to the allegation made against them. Revisit this at every Section 5 Strategy Meeting to determine if the level/detail of what can be provided has changed due to decisions not to investigate i.e. Police decision not to pursue criminal investigation.
• Escalate within the LA matters that have significant impact and may incur media interest
• Establish if the individual is working/volunteering with any other organisations that brings them into contact with adults at risk/children
• Establish if the individual has caring responsibilities for adults at risk/children
• Ensure all relevant representatives are invited to participate in the Section 5 Strategy Meeting process. Taking particular focus on ensuring any relevant regulatory bodies are notified/invited/represented.
• Support the professional group within the Section 5 meeting to reach an outcome decision.
• Supporting participants within the Section 5 meeting to understand and support sound risk identification if needed.
• Provide written feedback to individuals on conclusion of the process with the outcome decisions and any identified risks.
  NB this does not negate the need or responsibility of the employer to update individuals at the conclusion.
• Ensure that reports/referrals, decisions, record of discussions/meetings are recorded within the agreed LA recording systems.

The LADO/DOS must ensure that regular monitoring takes place between Section 5 strategy meetings where there are lengthy or protracted investigations to ensure that matters can be concluded in a timely manner.