LADO Law: Local Authority Designated Officers

We represent lay people and professionals in LADO Investigations.

We have a team of barristers who are experienced in advising on LADO law, and challenges to LADO decisions.

LADO Investigations can arise from allegations of: Domestic Violence, Child Abuse or Child Cruelty, Adverse Decisions/Findings made by Regulators and Other Official Decision-Making Bodies, Criminal Convictions, Referrals from Employers.

A Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) investigation must be instigated if it comes to the officer’s attention that:

1. 1. 1. behaved/acted in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
      2. possibly or has committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
      3. behaved/acted towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children
      4. behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicated they may not be suitable to work with children

If you are being investigated by LADO, it is important to make a chronological note of events while fresh in your mind, and compile your evidence in support of your own position. LADO decisions can have far-reaching consequences, if it is established (at a LADO multi-disciplinary team meeting) that any of the four criteria above are satisfied on the balance or probabilities. LADO can refer matters to employers, the police, DBS, and other organisations. (If LADO makes a DBS referral the individual will need to act promptly to make quality representations, as the risk is great of being barred from working with vulnerable adults and children.)

In some instances, LADO will receive false allegations, perhaps made maliciously, causing long-lasting harm to the individual concerned. In such instances, the individual being investigated might have to gather evidence to prove their innocence.

In other instances, an individual might accept that they have acted improperly toward or in the presence of a child, or accept that they have embarked in adverse conduct, but still argue that they have learned lessons, undertaken training, and are now in a better position to safeguard their own or others’ children, such that they do not pose a risk to others.

An individual may need to use the complaints process, to challenge the LADO process, and write to the Parliamentary Ombudsman about any LADO procedural failures that need to be corrected. In some instances, it may be necessary to take Judicial Review proceedings against LADO – but such proceedings can be costly, and so it is not a step that should be taken without detailed analysis of the merits and prospects of success.

Any reply to LADO needs to cover a number of key factors, and must be done with great care. In many instances, LADO will arrange for the individual to be interviewed, so that the multi-disciplinary team can take into account their position and any evidence that they advance.

For more details of how we can assist those referred to LADO, contact us on 0845 652 0451