Concerned about an Adult Working with Children

Any concerns or allegations should be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer for Allegations (LADO):

The Wokingham LADO can be contacted via email on LADO@wokingham.gov.uk. The allegation notification form can also be found at the bottom if this page.

The Reading LADO can be contacted via email on 0118 937 2684 or LADO@brighterfuturesforchildren.org

The West Berkshire LADO can be contacted via email on LADO@westberks.gov.uk

What is a LADO?

The LADO gives advice and guidance to employers and others who are concerned about an adult who works with children including volunteers and agency staff.

The concerns may include:

• Behaviour that has harmed or may have harmed a child
• Criminal offences against or involving children
• Behaviour that suggests that a person may pose a risk of harm to children

What does the LADO do?

• The LADO is involved in the oversight and management of allegations against people who work with children
• Provides advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations about the most appropriate way to manage the concern or allegation
• Helps to establish what the next steps should be
• Makes sure that all relevant specific actions are taken
• Monitors the progress of a case

Key Points:

• Any concern or allegation should be referred to the LADO within 24 hours
• In cases where the adult is unaware of the concern or allegation it may not be appropriate to tell them immediately - it may prejudice a possible Police investigation.  The LADO will provide advice.
• Compromise agreements are not an acceptable resolution to a concern, and even if someone resigns it should not prevent a full and thorough investigation
• The Allegations Process applies to paid, unpaid and volunteer workers, casual or agency staff and anyone self-employed.
• The LADO will provide advice and guidance and help determine that the allegation sits within the scope of the procedures.  The LADO helps coordinate information sharing with the right people.  They will also monitor and track any investigation with the expectation that it is resolved as quickly as possible.
• On conclusion of the case, they will help the employer to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service (external link).

Further information about the allegations management process and the roles and responsibilities of agencies can be accessed on the Berkshire shared procedures website by clicking on this link.

If you need to make a referral to the LADO this can be done using the Notification Form below:

Download Related Documents

Allegations Management Flowchart (Designed by West Berkshire Council)
Managing Allegations - Guide for Employees (Designed by Wokingham Borough Council)
Managing Allegations - Guide for Employers (Designed by Wokingham Borough Council)
LADO Poster 2022 (Designed by Wokingham Borough Council)
Wokingham LADO Referral Form (Designed by Wokingham Borough Council)