If you receive an allegation or concern about a member of staff in your organisation, you should pass this to the designated Senior Manager. If in doubt about who this is, refer to your procedure and speak to a manager.

• Some groups of children are more vulnerable. This includes very young babies and toddlers, or children who are more vulnerable due to disability or communication difficulties. However all concerns should be dealt with in accordance with the procedures regardless of the circumstances.
• Concerns about professionals can be raised in any setting and in any professional group at any level. Again, procedures should be followed in all cases, regardless of the role of the individual employee.
• Concerns about people who work with children can be identified due to issues that take place outside their employment e.g. within their own family or community
• Equally, concerns that are raised in relation to someone’s employment can impact on their family
• The alleged perpetrator should NOT be spoken to about the allegation. To do so may jeopardise any investigation and evidence, and may lead to risk to children in the future.
• If the allegation is very vague or there is good reason to believe that it may be malicious, the Senior Manager may choose to make discrete inquiries themselves before referring onwards. This is acceptable, however caution should be used to avoid jeopardising any future investigation.
• The referral should be reported to the Local Authority Designated Officer within one working day.
• Initial considerations, involving the employer, will be given by the Local Authority Designated Officer to whether the allegation meets the criteria within the procedure and whether there is a need to proceed to the next stage, convening a strategy meeting.
• Agreement should be reached on what actions, if any, need to be taken and by whom at this meeting.
• The allegation should be dealt with thoroughly, swiftly and sensitively to those involved, and a clear and comprehensive record kept.
• The Local Authority Designated Officer will liaise with the employer during this time to check on progress and offer advice.
• Every effort should be made to maintain confidentiality.

In Wakefield, the LADO role is conducted via a rota. The duty LADO can be contacted on 01977 727145 and 01977 722926.

Procedures relating to allegations or concerns about people who work with children can be found in Section 6 of the West Yorkshire Interagency Safeguarding Children Procedures which are online at www.proceduresonline.com/westyorkscb

The Safeguarding Children Board provide training in relation to the management of allegations or concerns about people who work with children. Details of the training available can be found on our training pages at www.wakefield.gov.uk/safeguardingchildren or by contacting the WDSCB Business Manager on 01977 727047.

In some circumstances, bespoke training can be provided and for details please contact either the WDSCB Business Manager or the Local Authority Designated Officer.