Interim LADO Cardiff

Cardiff Council Children’s Services is seeking an experienced safeguarding professional to join our Safeguarding and Reviewing Hub as an Interim Designated Officer for Safeguarding (DOS). They will report directly to the Operational Manager for Safeguarding and Reviewing. This role manages and coordinates the local authority’s response to allegations and concerns about people working with children, in line with the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and Cardiff’s Professional Concerns (Section 5) Processes. The role is broadly equivalent to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) function in England, and is suitable for applicants with LADO experience seeking to work within the Welsh safeguarding framework. This role offers hybrid working, with most meetings virtual and occasional face-to-face attendance at the office (1–2 days per week).

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate Cardiff’s response to safeguarding allegations involving practitioners, carers, and volunteers working with children.
• Provide expert advice, guidance, and support to managers, employers, education settings, and partner agencies on professional concerns and safeguarding thresholds.
• Chair multi-agency Professional Concerns Strategy Meetings, ensuring robust decision making, clear safeguarding plans, and timely actions.
• Liaise closely with South Wales Police, Education, Health, CIW, and relevant regulatory or professional bodies.
• Ensure the child’s voice and safety remain central to all decision making.
• Work collaboratively with the Safeguarding & Reviewing Hub, Children’s Services managers, and Education Safeguarding leads to ensure a consistent, informed response across the workforce.
• Maintain accurate and GDPR-compliant records, track activity, and contribute to performance monitoring.
• Support learning, improvement, and professional development across the children’s workforce.
• Contribute to wider safeguarding work across Cardiff, including emerging themes, case learning, and inter-agency problem solving.

Experience and Skills Required

• Significant post-qualifying experience in safeguarding / child protection.
• Professional background in Social Work.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation and procedures (Wales or England).
• Experience managing complex safeguarding concerns and working in multi-agency settings.
• Experience of chairing or leading multi-agency meetings.
• Ability to analyse risk, make confident decisions, and balance competing information.
• Excellent communication, partnership working, and report writing skills.

Desirable

• Previous LADO / DOS experience.
• Knowledge of the Wales Safeguarding Procedures and Welsh policy context.
• Experience safeguarding within education settings and working with Designated Safeguarding Persons / school leaders.
• Experience delivering training or professional guidance.
• Managerial experience.

Additional Requirements

• Enhanced DBS check.
• Ability to work flexibly and manage a high volume, fast-paced caseload.
• Commitment to child-centred practice and continuous improvement.
• Registration with a relevant regulatory body (e.g., Social Care Wales).

Benefits

• Your local agency based in Cardiff.
• Welsh-speaking consultant available should you wish to converse in Welsh during your job search.
• PAYE and Umbrella payroll options available – you choose.
• Dedicated point of contact (support team to cover whilst on leave).
• Twice weekly payroll.
• Actively supplying every Local Authority in South/West Wales and South West England.
• Provides free training sessions (contributes CPD).
• Refer a friend scheme available.
• Birthday gifts and wellbeing sessions.

Given the nature of the role, only applications from individuals with a social work qualification and registration with either Social Care Wales or Social Work England can be considered. No sponsorship is provided. Please only apply if you meet this criterion. Contact Sarah Leigh at Hoop Social Work in Cardiff today on 02922 400519 for an informal chat.