Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

Overview

We are looking for an experienced and motivated individual to join our team of local authority designated officers.

The role is a hybrid model of homeworking, office based and delivering training both virtually and in person.

About us

The LADOs bring a variety of experience and working backgrounds to the job and work together to build awareness and knowledge to protect children in Buckinghamshire. This is built on a foundation of support provided by our business support officers whose expertise and skills blends with and enhances the team.

The team works collaboratively to provide a service that is able to adapt to the needs of the local authority and the organisations we engage with.

About the role

You would be working alongside 3 LADOs and a senior LADO:

• Carrying out duty, to assess and triage contacts to one of the LADO pathways
• Holding a manageable case load
• Providing support to partners during the allegation process
• Quality Assuring investigations
• Advising around risk mitigation, risk assessments, communication, the LADO process and outcomes
• Chairing multi-agency meetings

It is a great time to join the team as we build on our positive comment in the Ofsted report and continue to bring awareness of the role and requirements within the wider children’s workforce.

At one of our recently appointed LADO’s has said “it’s a totally new challenge with a fresh way of thinking. You’ll join a supportive team with lots of chance to work independently.”

Any-Desk:

As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office at times, depending on team requirements.

About you

You will be a Qualified Social Worker (DipSW or equivalent) with experience of working at team manager or equivalent level within statutory children’s services.  

You will have extensive knowledge of the service area and ideally experienced as a LADO.

SWE registration is essential unless you held a position as LADO within another authority appointed prior to 2015.

You will have a proven track record of working positively with a range of partner organisations and have extensive experience of chairing complex multi-agency meetings.

In return we offer you a safe working environment where you will receive excellent training, development and peer development forums. You will have regular, high quality one to one supervision sessions.

Please refer to the full person specification for further details.

Other information

If you would like to find out more about this role, please contact Mark Blackwell at [email protected] or via Teams message.

Closing Date: Wednesday 9 July

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

 

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Buckinghamshire is a successful, growing place with fantastic natural assets, a highly productive economy and many resourceful and thriving communities. However, we are far from complacent and our new and ambitious unitary authority is well placed to tackle the challenges associated with growth, an aging population, climate change and inequalities in both opportunities and outcomes – particularly for our children and young people.

Children’s Services is on an improvement journey and as our very recent Ofsted report shows, we have continued to improve despite the pressures of the pandemic and have built solid foundations for future success. Relationships with partners are strong and our collective response to the pandemic has strengthened and deepened our work together.

We have a big, ambitious agenda for Buckinghamshire, and our teams work collaboratively and at pace to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people across the county.

We are looking for talented and driven individuals to help us achieve the best outcomes for our children, young people and families in Buckinghamshire. Our key priorities include continuing to protect vulnerable children and young people from harm, whilst sustaining an environment where social work practice can thrive. Through our vital work with our partners, including The Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Childrens Partnership, we continue to improve our collective response to children and young people who have been exposed to domestic abuse, exploitation, substance misuse and mental health issues.

No matter what role you take on in our Children’s services, you will be part of a team who is dedicated to supporting children and their families to achieve their full potential.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/