LADO qualification requirements
Dear Norfolk County Council,
I have been reviewing the qualification requirements for the role of LADO nationally.
From my findings it seems that one of the mandatory requirements is that the LADO is also a registered social worker.
FOI1 - Can the Norfolk County Council confirm that is also a requirement of the NCC? That is does the NCC require their LADO personnel to be registered social workers?
FOI2 - Can the role or functions of a LADO be undertaken by someone other that a LADO? - to clarify for example could a person not qualified or experienced in social work undertake a LADO role to advise regarding the steps to take when an allegation of harm to a child is made?
Yours faithfully,
Gary
Dear Gary
Freedom of Information Act 2000/Environmental Information Regulations 2004
Information Request ENQ-684548-N0Y9S0
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Yours sincerely
Information Governance Team
Strategy and Transformation Department
County Hall , 5th Floor
Dear Gary
Freedom of Information Request ENQ-684548-N0Y9S0
I refer to your request for information dated 6 February 2024
You asked for:
• Can the Norfolk County Council confirm that is also a requirement of
the NCC? That is does the NCC require their LADO personnel to be
registered social workers?
Our response:
Norfolk County Council follows the National Guidance from Working
Together. In Norfolk the LADOs are qualified, registered, and experienced
Social Workers.
• Can the role or functions of a LADO be undertaken by someone other
that a LADO? - to clarify for example could a person not qualified or
experienced in social work undertake a LADO role to advise regarding
the steps to take when an allegation of harm to a child is made?
Our response:
Norfolk County Council follows the National Guidance from Working
Together. Therefore, no, the guidance is clear that LADOs are experienced,
qualified social workers.
We refer you to, Working Together, 2023, page 108, 224. “Local authorities
should, in addition, have designated a particular officer, or team of
officers known as local authority designated officers (LADO), (either as
part of local multi-agency arrangements or otherwise), to be involved in
the management and oversight of allegations against people who work with
children. Any such officer, or team of officers, should be sufficiently
qualified and experienced to be able to fulfil this role effectively, for
example, qualified social workers. Any new appointments to such a role,
other than current or former designated officers moving between local
authorities, should be qualified social workers”.
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Norwich
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Senior Information Compliance Officer
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Transformation
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Gary left an annotation ()
I mistakenly forgot to incude in my request the meaning of the acronym 'LADO'. For clarification the acronym LADO stands for Local Authority Designated Officer and is a role for overseeing concerns of the safeguarding of children.