Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in Stoke-on-Trent

As our Local Authority Designated Officer, you will have a pivotal role in safeguarding children and young people by overseeing and managing allegations and concerns relating to adults who work or volunteer with children.

You will provide specialist advice, oversight and professional challenge to employers, voluntary organisations and partner agencies, helping to ensure allegations are considered promptly, proportionately and fairly.

You will work closely with the Police, Children’s Social Care, education, health, HR professionals, employers and other safeguarding partners, coordinating complex multi-agency processes and ensuring that children remain at the centre of decision making.

The role also has an important quality assurance and strategic function, helping us understand themes, strengthen practice, improve systems and promote a consistent approach to managing allegations across Stoke-on-Trent.

As LADO, you will

• Provide specialist advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations on allegations and concerns involving people who work with children.
• Coordinate and oversee responses to allegations, working closely with the Police and other safeguarding partners.
• Monitor the progress of cases to ensure they are managed effectively, promptly, fairly and proportionately.
• Chair complex multi-agency meetings and provide clear professional oversight and challenge.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with employers, partner agencies and key stakeholders.
• Lead and contribute to policy, procedures and guidance relating to the management of allegations.
• Develop effective systems for tracking, monitoring and quality assuring LADO activity.
• Analyse performance information, identify learning and contribute to service improvement.
• Deliver single and multi-agency training relating to managing allegations and safer recruitment.
• Promote consistent safeguarding practice across organisations working with children and young people.
• Represent childrens safeguarding within relevant local, regional and national forums.
• Contribute to audits and wider quality assurance activity across Childrens Social Care.

The full job description also includes liaison on high-profile cases, responding to requests from regulatory and statutory organisations, contributing to MAPPA, safer recruitment activity and other safeguarding responsibilities appropriate to the role.

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of the required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK.
• Proof of address.
• Satisfactory references.
• Occupational Health clearance.
• Evidence of relevant professional qualifications and registration.
• A DBS check at the appropriate level.

The role is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check.

We are looking for an experienced social work professional who can bring credibility, sound professional judgement and confident leadership to this specialist safeguarding role.

• A recognised professional qualification in Social Work and current registration with Social Work England.
• Significant experience of statutory childrens social work within a local authority setting.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, public protection and legislation relating to violent and sexual offences.
• An understanding of HR processes, employment matters and safer recruitment.
• Significant experience of chairing complex multi‑disciplinary meetings and managing competing risks and priorities.
• The confidence to provide professional challenge and advice to senior managers, employers and partner organisations.
• Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Experience of performance management, quality assurance and monitoring.
• The ability to work independently while building strong and effective relationships across a complex multi‑agency partnership.
• A commitment to relational, inclusive and anti‑discriminatory practice.

The person specification also identifies experience of multi‑agency training, performance monitoring, supporting and mentoring social care staff, and the ability to synthesise complex information and provide reflective challenge.

• Play a key role in ensuring children and young people are protected from harm.
• Influence safeguarding practice across a wide range of organisations and sectors.
• Work alongside senior professionals and partners across the city.
• Help shape policy, learning and continuous improvement.
• Use your expertise to strengthen the quality and consistency of safeguarding practice across Stoke‑on‑Trent.
• Join a Children and Families service committed to relational practice, learning and improving outcomes for children.

What we offer

• We recognise and value the contribution of our social work professionals and offer:
• A competitive salary reflecting the seniority and responsibilities of the role.
• Hybrid and flexible working options, where compatible with service requirements.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• High‑quality reflective supervision and professional support.
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training, apprenticeship and management programmes.
• Health and wellbeing support.
• Access to staff equality and diversity networks.
• Opportunities to develop your career within Children and Families.

When you work for Stoke‑on‑Trent City Council you'll be helping to improve the lives and wellbeing of our residents.

We'll provide you with support, learning opportunities and flexible working options and some amazing benefits including; a competitive salary, generous holidays, an excellent defined local authority benefit pension scheme, annual leave purchase scheme, cycle to work schemes just to name a few.

We also have access to lifestyle benefits which offer a wide range of discounts such as family days out, travel, retail and many more.

Our commitment to you

Vibrancy and diversity are two of Stoke‑on‑Trent's greatest assets.

A city founded on creative endeavour should value and celebrate the multitude of voices, ideas and identities that shape its culture.

We are committed to creating a culture which is truly inclusive, where all staff feel valued, listened to, supported and able to do their work to the best of their abilities at all times.

And we must ensure that our decisions and policies nurture and empower communities across our city and do not inadvertently disadvantage groups and individuals that we want to help to thrive.

Our approach to Equality and Diversity is an invitation to all our communities to work with and for us so we can continue to improve how we deliver services residents need.

Our employee networks are inclusive, open forums for colleagues with similar lived experiences.

They allow staff to meet, support and mentor each other, alongside being a voice for under‑represented groups to advise and support the organisation when developing policies and services.

About Stoke‑on‑Trent City Council

Stoke‑on‑Trent City Council is a unitary authority employing approximately 4,600 staff who deliver 700 services to more than 260,000 residents.

Our city comprises of six towns: Burslem, Fenton, Hanley, Longton, Stoke and Tunstall.

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future.

Working for Stoke‑on‑Trent City Council is more than just a job; it is about making, protecting and improving services for local people, reducing inequalities and improving outcomes for those who live and work in our city.

Stoke‑on‑Trent City Councils diverse and talented workforce is our greatest asset.

The skills, knowledge and experience of our employees are essential to delivering our ambitions for the organisation and the city.

We want to be an employer people are proud to work for, where staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive environment that enables them to excel.

We have undergone significant changes over the last few years.

New ways of working have already transformed many service areas and we are determined to continue to develop more innovative approaches to ensure that we can maximise the benefits of transformation.

Our city is the 13th largest city in the UK, and we are rapidly outstripping many parts of the country with our economic growth and recovery.

Stoke‑on‑Trent is a city with a strong sense of civic pride - we've been voted the kindest city in the UK - and a place where you'll receive a hugely warm welcome.

We have a rich and diverse culture, steeped in our prestigious industrial heritage as the celebrated 'world capital of ceramics'.

But we don't just want to celebrate our proud past - we firmly believe that Stoke‑on‑Trent's best years are ahead of it.

We are determined to raise aspirations and match them with high‑quality education and health provision, as well as improved opportunities to secure fulfilling and well‑paid work.

Through uniting social and economic opportunities, we are maximising the full power of the city council as a secure and steadfast institution within the city.

Join Our Children and Families Service We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of our continued ambition to deliver high‑quality services for children, young people and families.

We are committed to strong relational practice, hearing and acting on the voice of the child, and creating a learning culture where our workforce is supported to develop, reflect and continuously improve.

We are now looking for an experienced, confident and values‑led practitioner to join our Quality Assurance Team as Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke‑on‑Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

We understand that some people, particularly those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they do not meet every listed requirement.

We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves and can succeed together.

Your Career Matters Here

At Stoke‑on‑Trent City Council, we are committed to helping our people thrive.

From competitive pay and a supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know it is our greatest asset.

We are building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.

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