The starting salary range for this position is £50,942 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.
Are you looking for an opportunity to be a part of a dynamic and inclusive team where you can develop your knowledge, practice and skills in child protection and safeguarding by managing allegations against adults who work with children?
The Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Service is seeking an enthusiastic learner, capable of working in a fast-paced environment and making safeguarding decisions whilst covering duty. As a Local Authority Designated Officer, you will work within a multi-agency setting, providing advice and support to professionals, volunteers, and carers who work with children across all settings and organisations in Surrey. This includes health, childcare workers, sports, schools, faith groups and leisure settings. You will manage allegations against professionals who work with children in a paid or voluntary capacity.
This role is open to remote working meaning you aren't required in the office 5 days a week. We welcome a conversation with the successful candidate on what remote working may look like for you.
Rewards and Benefits
- 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
- 2 paid volunteering days plus 1 team volunteering day per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
About the Team
The LADO service is one of many teams that sits within the Quality and Improvement service. The LADO team is managed by the LADO Manager and Safeguarding Partnership Co-ordinator. We are a small, unique and friendly team consisting of 4 permanent LADOs. We pride ourselves in providing a fast, effective and quality service to partners and form part of the wider Safeguarding Partnership, a service that includes the Education Safeguarding Team and Child Employment. Each of these teams work together to ensure ongoing safeguarding of children.
Over the last four years, the LADO service has worked incredibly hard to reduce caseloads and provide clarity and delivery of thresholds. The service has an effective and efficient duty system and each member of the team is expected to be on duty at least two times a week. LADOs also hold caseloads of about 30 to 50 cases per month.
About the Role
As a Local Authority Designated Officer, you will be responsible for chairing the Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers meeting, liaising with the police and other agencies as necessary, and ensuring that the management of information regarding allegations is kept up to date. You will also be responsible for informing the LADO Partnership Safeguarding Coordinator (and in their absence relevant senior managers) about potentially high profile situations and significant safeguarding matters that may either compromise a child's safety or raise other areas of concern.
You will work alongside the LADO Partnership Safeguarding Coordinator, Surrey's Safeguarding Children Board (SSCB), and others regarding the development of inter-agency performance management processes, standards and performance indicators.
As a LADO, you will need to be able to listen and respond with clarity and sensitivity whilst adhering to the legal framework, policy and guidance in regard to managing allegations and keeping children safe in education. You will also analyse performance management information and support the LADO Partnership Safeguarding Coordinator to present reports to senior management.
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position your CV and personal statement will clearly evidence:
- A Social work degree / qualification / SWE registered
- At least 5 years' post qualification experience (with experience of safeguarding)
- Experience of working within a LADO team, Referral and Assessment and MASH
- Good knowledge and experience of Child Protection and Safeguarding
- An ability to make quick decisions when assessing referrals on duty
- Flexibility to work within a busy and dynamic service and offer support to partners where required
- Confidence to support with the delivery of training to multi-agency partners and settings
- A fast learner who is willing to adapt to the delivery of good quality and timely service to a dynamic county
The job advert closes at 23:59 on 02/06/2024 with interviews to follow.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applications where:
- The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
- The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.
We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.