A Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) can get involved when allegations are made against any professional or volunteer working with children from 0 to 18 years old, who is alleged to have:

• behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children
• behaved in a manner in their private lives that might indicate any of the above conditions

This applies to all adults within a position of trust, including:

• paid staff
• unpaid staff
• volunteers
• casual staff
• agency staff
• anyone working in a self-employed capacity

If you witness, receive, or become aware of an incident or allegation that may meet the above criteria, it must be reported to the LADO service within one working day.

Refer to the LADO as a professional

Professionals who need to seek advice or make a referral must complete and submit a LADO Referral Form. The referral form is the only route for obtaining advice, consultation, or making a referral to the LADO service.

Please do not contact the LADO service by telephone or direct email to request professional advice, as all professional enquiries must be submitted via the referral form.

Raise a concern as a member of the public 

If you are not a professional working with children but you are concerned about a professional working with a child, email lado@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

About transferable risk

Transferable risk is where a childcare professional behaves a certain way in their private life, that would make further work with children inappropriate. Over half of cases investigated between 2019 and 2021 were referred because of this type of behaviour.

When the police are involved in a situation that requires intervention, they will contact the LADO service directly, sharing the information by way of a Public Protection Notice (PPN).

Examples of these concerns are:

• criminal misuse of substances or alcohol
• criminal acts of dishonesty
• violence against a person
• sexual assaults
• internet crime

About the records we keep and ask for

The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) service keeps records for all cases where an allegation is made or advice is given. These records are reviewed before being destroyed. They help track possible offenders and protect colleagues who are wrongly accused.

In Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole, the LADO service emails the referrer to create an audit trail. Written referrals are needed only when agreed by both the LADO and referrer. Clear written referrals help prevent mistakes during investigations.