Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Start: May 2024
Rate: £30ph to £45ph – Negotiable
Hours: Full time, 37 hours
Duration: 3 months initially (very likely extension)
Location: West Midlands
Predominantly remote working
Our client is seeking a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to act as a system leader for safeguarding children and young people. This is a full time interim contract for an initial period of 3 months, with a very high likelihood of extension.
Please see below for more information:
Responsibilities:
- Manage the Position of Trust process in respect of adults in all sectors where there are concerns that they have caused harm or intend to cause harm to a child in accordance with statutory requirements
- Manage a diverse range of sensitive relationships within the Corporation across Directorates (Children’s Services, Clean & Green; Leisure Services)
- Manage sensitive relationships with external agencies including (but not limited to) schools and education providers, early years providers, health providers, police, charities etc.
- To work as appropriate with HR services across Directorates and external agencies
- To ensure that senior leaders are kept fully informed in respect of those situations that may result in adverse or negative publicity either for the corporation or for the borough
- Maintain current knowledge in national safeguarding policy, guidance and learning from reviews for children to ensure that the Learning and Development Programme is up to date and reflects changes in legislation, statutory guidance and practice
- Maintain current knowledge in respect of statutory developments and requirements for other statutory providers in respect of safeguarding within their sector
- Develop and deliver training in respect of safeguarding and positions of trust across the sector
- Act as a system leader in respect of adults who may have harmed of who may pose a risk to children
- Chair all meetings in respect of managing allegations in respect of individuals who have caused harm or may pose a risk to children
- Challenge, as required, decisions made by employers in respect of their employees which do not assure the safeguarding of children
- Provide advice across the safeguarding partnership in respect of interpreting and implementing Safeguarding Procedures and policies
- Develop and maintain a network of those working with children within the authority
- Develop and deliver multi-agency training to ensure that best practice is achieved across all sectors
- Attend MAPPA meetings as the Children’s Services representative
- Maintain and further develop performance management systems regarding the management of allegations in respect of adults posing a risk
- Provide an annual report in relation to LADO activity for presentation in multiple fora which outlines activity for the year and areas for future development
- Quality assurance work commensurate with the role
- Ability to have challenging conversations with providers across the sector and outside the local authority to ensure that the decisions they take keep children safe
If you are interested in the role, we would love to hear from you! Please apply to receive more information.