Local Authority Designated Officer in Wokingham

Location: Wokingham

Salary: £57,707 per year

Recruiter: Wokingham Borough Council

Job Hours: Full-time

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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 £57,707 - £60,921 (includes £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.