Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Rate: Competitive Hourly Rate
Contract: Full Time | Ongoing Contract
Working Pattern: Hybrid Working Available
Join a Team Dedicated to Safeguarding Children
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced safeguarding professional to join Cheshire West & Chester Council as a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
This is a key safeguarding role where you will lead on the management and oversight of allegations made against professionals, volunteers and individuals working with children. You will provide expert advice, coordinate multi-agency responses and ensure allegations are managed fairly, consistently and in line with statutory guidance to safeguard children and young people.
About the Role
As the LADO, you will be responsible for managing allegations and concerns relating to individuals working or volunteering with children. You will provide professional advice to employers and partner agencies, chair complex multi-agency meetings and ensure that safeguarding processes are robust, timely and proportionate.
Working closely with Children's Social Care, Police, Education, Health and other safeguarding partners, you will play a vital role in promoting safe working practices and protecting children across the borough.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead on the management of allegations against professionals and volunteers working with children.
- Provide expert safeguarding advice and guidance to employers and partner agencies.
- Chair multi-agency strategy meetings and allegations management meetings.
- Assess risk and ensure allegations are managed in accordance with statutory guidance and local safeguarding procedures.
- Work collaboratively with Children's Social Care, Police, Health, Education and other safeguarding partners.
- Promote safer working practices and safer recruitment principles.
- Maintain accurate case records and produce high-quality reports.
- Monitor safeguarding outcomes and contribute to service development and quality assurance.
- Provide advice, support and challenge to partner organisations to ensure children remain safeguarded.
About You
We're looking for an experienced safeguarding professional who can demonstrate:
- Qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration.
- A minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience within Children's Social Care.
- Significant experience in safeguarding, child protection and managing complex risk.
- Strong knowledge of statutory safeguarding legislation, Working Together guidance, allegations management procedures and safer recruitment.
- Experience chairing complex multi-agency meetings and working effectively across partner agencies.
- Excellent analytical, communication and decision-making skills.
- The confidence to provide professional challenge while building positive working relationships.
Why Join Cheshire West & Chester?
- Opportunity to undertake a specialist safeguarding role.
- Work alongside experienced multi-agency safeguarding professionals.
- Hybrid working arrangements.
- Competitive hourly rate.
- Ongoing contract with potential for extension.
- Dedicated consultant support from We Do Social Work.
- Fast, reliable weekly payroll.
- Free compliance and DBS support.
- £250 Refer a Friend bonus.
If you're an experienced safeguarding professional looking to make a real impact on protecting children and improving safeguarding practice across the local authority, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today or contact We Do Social Work for a confidential discussion.