Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)

• Candidate_Pack_-_People_Directorate_-_Aug_2026
• JDPS_LADO_October_2026

Please apply online via the link provided.

Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.

Do you have the experience, expertise and professional judgement to lead on complex safeguarding concerns and allegations involving those who work with children?

As Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), you will provide independent oversight, authoritative challenge and effective multi-agency coordination, keeping children’s welfare, wishes and feelings at the heart of decision-making. You will also shape and quality assure the LADO service, strengthen practice and turn learning into continuous improvement.

At Bracknell Forest, we pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service.

This role includes an expectation to work from our Time Square office two days per week, alongside flexible working arrangements.

About you…

As a LADO you will be a SWE registered social worker with substantial management experience in children’s social care, child protection and multi-agency safeguarding.

You will have detailed, current knowledge of safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, together with experience of coordinating complex allegation-management processes, applying the harm threshold and providing independent advice and challenge.

As a LADO you will chair complex multi-agency meetings, assess risk, manage professional disagreement and secure timely outcomes.

Your strong analytical, communication and report-writing skills are essential, alongside resilience, sound judgement and the confidence to influence senior professionals. Experience of child protection conference chairing, multi-agency training, organisational safeguarding or safer recruitment would be an advantage.

About the team…

The LADO is based within the Quality Assurance service and works closely with Children’s Social Care, the police, employers, education, early years, health, Ofsted, the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and other safeguarding partners.

We are a small, experienced and supportive team that values professional independence, constructive challenge, strong partnership working and a clear focus on safeguarding children.

You will have the opportunity to influence practice across the local safeguarding system, advise senior leaders and help organisations understand and meet their responsibilities.

Children's services are currently progressing its Families First transformation programme. This role may be subject to changes to its responsibilities, reporting arrangements and/or job description. Any proposed changes would be managed in accordance with the Councils relevant consultation processes and policies.

Key responsibilities…

• Receive referrals and consultations, gather relevant information, apply the harm threshold and advise on proportionate safeguarding action.
• Convene and chair allegation-management meetings, agree clear actions and timescales, monitor progress and challenge avoidable delay.
• Keep children’s welfare, wishes and feelings central while ensuring fair, consistent and evidence-based processes for all involved.
• Provide authoritative advice on risk management, information sharing, safer working, suspension considerations and referrals to the DBS or professional regulators.
• Work effectively with employers, safeguarding partners, other LADOs and relevant agencies, including on cross-boundary and high-profile matters.
• Maintain accurate and secure records, analyse service data and report on timeliness, outcomes, themes, disproportionality, risk and learning.
• Lead service development, quality assurance, audit and multi-agency training to strengthen organisational safeguarding and safer practice.
• Chair Child Protection Conferences when reasonably required, while maintaining sufficient capacity, availability and independence for the statutory LADO function.

Our benefits…

• 28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service, with the opportunity to buy up to 10 and sell up to 5 days.
• Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. 
• Paid employee volunteering scheme.
• Local government pension scheme, with life insurance cover.
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme (subject to eligibility).
• Reimbursement of one annual professional subscription/registration.
• Reimbursement of Social Work England registration.
• Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits. (Terms and Conditions apply)
• Career development through internal and external training opportunities. 
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave. 
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing
• Inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks and a sports and social club. 

Find out more about all our benefits or see the candidate pack.

Our values...

At Bracknell Forest Council our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you. 

Reasonable adjustments...

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting [email removed]. We will work with you to support you throughout the process. Find out more about reasonable adjustments.

Disability confident and inclusive recruitment...

Bracknell Forest Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive employer. This means that if you tell us on your application form that you have a disability, are an armed forces veteran or are a care leaver, you will be guaranteed an interview if you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Interview date 

Interviews will be held on 2nd November 2026 

Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.

We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your