Senior Safeguarding Lead (LADO)

WMJobs; Stoke-on-Trent; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid and flexible working

Local Government Pension Scheme

Health and wellbeing support

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking an experienced Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to safeguard children by overseeing allegations involving people who work with children. You will provide specialist guidance, coordinate responses with the Police and safeguarding partners, and chair multi-agency meetings to ensure timely, fair handling.

You will bring substantial statutory children’s social work experience, strong safeguarding knowledge, and the ability to challenge professional

Qualifications

• A recognised professional qualification in Social Work and current registration with Social Work England.
• Significant statutory children’s social work experience in a local authority.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, public protection and relevant legislation.
• Understanding HR processes, safer recruitment.
• Experience chairing complex multi-disciplinary meetings and managing risks.
• Ability to provide professional challenge to senior managers and partner organisations.
• Excellent analytical, communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Experience in performance management and quality assurance.
• Ability to work independently while building relationships across a multi-agency partnership.
• Commitment to relational, inclusive and anti-discriminatory practice.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Social work experience

Safeguarding expertise

Leadership

Multi-agency liaison

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Professional Social Work qualification

Job description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking an experienced Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) to safeguard children by overseeing allegations involving people who work with children. You will provide specialist guidance, coordinate responses with the Police and safeguarding partners, and chair multi-agency meetings to ensure timely, fair handling.

You will bring substantial statutory children’s social work experience, strong safeguarding knowledge, and the ability to challenge professional