Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

There is a Designated Officer in the Local Authority who is involved in the management and oversight of allegations made about members of staff or volunteers who work with children. This is a role set out in the statutory guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023).

What is an allegation?

There are four criteria for what constitutes an allegation that should be referred to the LADO. These may relate to a person who works with children who has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child; or
• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she would pose a risk of harm to children; or
• behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children

If this criteria is met, the LADO will assist by providing advice and guidance to employer or organisation to ensure their investigations are full, timely and fair. The LADO will also work with the Police and Social Care when needed and tell other important organisations if necessary.

If you are worried about someone who is working in regulated activity with a child or children, you should tell the LADO. You must do this within one working day.

You should complete a LADO notification form which can be found on the Portsmouth Safeguarding Children Partnership (PSCP) website and send to:

• email LADO@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
• phone on 023 9288 2500

For more details on how the Council uses information about these complaints, visit our Data Protection Privacy Notice page.

What to do when you get a complaint, concern or allegation:

• take it seriously and keep an open mind
• do not investigate it yourself
• do not make guesses or offer other explanations
• do not promise to keep it secret
• write down what the child or adult says, using their own words
• note the time, date, place of the incident(s), who was there, and what was said
• sign and date your written record
• do not tell the person being complained about if it might put the child at more risk or harm the investigation

For more information about allegations and complaints procedure, visit the PCSP website.