Managing allegations against adults who work with children

One of the key functions of the Salford Children Partnership is to ensure that there are multi-agency policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. This includes dealing with allegations against people who work with children and the recruitment and selection of adults who work with children.

Working together to safeguard children 2023: statutory guidance (publishing.service.gov.uk) states that organisations and agencies working with children and families should have clear policies for dealing with allegations against people who work with children. Such policies should make a clear distinction between an allegation, a concern about the quality of care or practice or a complaint.

An allegation may relate to a person who works with children who has:

• Behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child
• Possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child
• Behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children
• Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children

This government guidance also states that employers, school governors, trustees and voluntary organisations should ensure that they have clear policies in place setting out the process, including timescales for investigation and what support and advice will be available to individuals against whom allegations have been made. Further guidance is available at Keeping children safe in education 2024 (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Any allegation against people who work with children should be reported immediately to a senior manager within the organisation or agency and the Local Authority Designated Officer. This should take place within one working day of you becoming aware of the potential harm.

If an organisation or agency removes an individual (paid worker or unpaid volunteer) from work in regulated activity with children (or would have, had the person not left first) because the person poses a risk of harm to children, the organisation or agency must make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service to consider whether to add the individual to the barred list.

• LADO Privacy Notice (Adobe PDF format, 266kb)
• Salford City Council Privacy Statement

Safeguarding referral for adults working with children

Children and young people can be subject to harm by those who work with them in any setting. This may be by a professional, staff member, sports coach, foster carer or volunteer. If you have concerns about an adult working with children, please use the resources below to refer to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) via the online Childrens Portal. Please note you will need to create an account if you do not already have one, this can then be used to make referrals to most services relating to children

The portal can be accessed here: Salford Children and Families Portal

Useful links and resources

• Schools low level concerns policy template (July 2024)

• Regulated Activity in relation to children - Department for Education (publishing.service.gov.uk)

• Making a DBS Referral - Making barring referrals to the DBS - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Keeping Children Safe in Out of School Settings

• LADO Guide for Employers

• LADO Guide for Children and Young People

• What happens when an Allegation of Harm is made against me?

• Managing Allegation Meeting Agenda