Local Authority Designated Officer

Local Authority Designated Officer

Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £54,707 - £57,921 (plus additional £3k Market Supplement)
Location: Shute End/Home Working
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Full Time
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 07/07/2024 at 23:00
Reference: 710191

An exciting vacancy has arisen in our Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Service. We are currently looking to recruit a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within the service.

This offers a great opportunity to undertake a specialist key role in ensuring that we as a Local Authority (alongside partners) comply with our statutory duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. The responsibility of this role is to make safe and effective decisions for children, you will ensure allegations made against adults working with children are managed fairly and effectively.

This is a fantastic time to join us in Wokingham. Under our new Director of Children's Services, our aims are focussed to continue to develop the service. You will be joining a team committed to the highest standards of practice.

A career with us means you can be yourself, thrive, and build the career your talent and ambition deserve. We are keen to hear from those that are flexible, dynamic and willing to work with safe uncertainty, to achieve the best outcomes for our children.

As the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) your main responsibilities will be:

• Provide advice and guidance to employers and voluntary organisations.
• Liaise with the police, children's social care, other local authorities, and relevant agencies as part of the enquires and investigations.
• Manage the allegation process, including chairing the allegation meetings and monitor the progress of the allegation to ensure that it is dealt with as quickly as possible, consistent with a thorough and fair process
• Provide bespoke training and development to the children's workforce on the role and responsibility of employees in managing allegations against people and the role of the LADO.
• Strategic development role in providing analysis, identifying patterns and themes to support single agency strengthening of their organisations in delivering services that are safe.
• To actively participate in the quality assurance function of the effectiveness of the LADO.

What we can offer you:

• Salary of £54,707 - £57,921 (plus additional £3k market supplement)
• Monthly reflective supervision
• 31 days annual leave (plus an extra 5 days with 5 years continuous LA service)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Hybrid working
• Excellent Learning & Development programme
• Employee Assistance Programme

It is essential that applicants have a social work qualification, along with at least four years post qualifying experience in children services and with experience of safeguarding, working confidently under pressure and to deadlines and be skilled in interpreting and implementing legislation and guidance.

Wokingham Borough Council is based in Wokingham Town Centre, recently crowned the healthiest place to live in the UK. Wokingham is an attractive market town in Berkshire, with excellent road and rail links and is easily accessible from London and Reading. The Borough has good schools and low levels of crime, and the town is attractive to families and residents, who enjoy a high quality of life.

Closing date: Sunday 7 th July at 11pm

Interview date: Monday 15 th July, in Wokingham's main offices.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Sara James (Service Manager, Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Team)or Alix Williams (Recruitment & Retention Specialist for Children's Social Care)

Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.

Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.

Further information on this vacancy

• LADO Job description