Safeguarding is Everybody’s Business If you work with children this affects you!

Local Authority Designated Officer - LADO Recognise Respond Responsibility When someone working with children Do Not We are ALL responsible for keeping children & young people in a paid or voluntary • ignore your concerns, the complaint or allegation safe in all environments. position has acted in a way that has • start to Investigate the matter yourself • you and / or your employer may be asked or may have Do to attend a multi-agency meeting chaired 1. harmed a child, by the LADO or Children’s Social Care. • immediately discuss your concerns with 2. committed an offence against a child or • if you are invited to a meeting you your supervisor and / or the designated safeguarding officer 3. behaved towards a child or children in a should make every effort to attend as for your organisation in accordance with your agency’s way that indicates they may pose a risk your contribution will be vital to the safeguarding policy and procedures of harm to children. safeguarding of children. • where the concerns meet one or more of the three criteria, • it is the responsibility of the LADO You must take action to safeguard the report the concerns to the (LADO) Local Authority to oversee the management of ALL child. This is the case whether you witness Designated Officer within one working day. allegations against people in a position something first hand, or as a result of a • in an emergency where a child has suffered an injury of trust working with children directly or complaint or allegation made by another and / or is likely to suffer significant harm, follow child indirectly in a paid or voluntary position, child or adult protection procedures and contact the police and social where the nature of allegation meets the care immediately. above three criteria • record what you have witnessed and / or all information that has been shared with you in detail including the adult and child/rens personal details

The Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire & Luton Safeguarding Boards Procedures for Managing Allegations and Concerns regarding Staff, Carers and Volunteers working with Children and Young People can be found on the Interagency Child Protection Procedures (chapter 31) at http://bedfordscb.proceduresonline.com/chapters/contents.html If you have any further questions about the role of the LADO , please discuss with your designated safeguarding officer / manager, or contact the LADO. The Local Authority has identified designated officers to: • Be involved in the management and oversight of individual cases • Provide advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations • Liaise with the police and other agencies • Monitor the progress of cases to ensure that they are dealt with as quickly as possible consistent with a thorough and fair process

LADO - Bedford Borough Council LADO – Central Bedfordshire Council LADO – Luton Borough Council

0300 3008142 01234 276693 / 276560 01582 548069 conferenceandreviewdutydesk@ [email protected] centralbedfordshire.gov.uk [email protected]