Social Worker - Local Authority Designated Officer (lado) in Leeds, West Yorkshire

Job Title: Social Worker – Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
Specialism: Social Worker – Children
Location: Leeds, UK
Salary: £40.00 per hour

Social Worker – Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) within Children's Services in Leeds, earning £40.00 per hour. This exciting ongoing locum opportunity offers both part-time and full-time flexibility, providing the chance to play a pivotal role in safeguarding children across the city. Working as part of a dedicated safeguarding service, you will oversee allegations management processes, provide expert safeguarding advice, and ensure concerns involving adults who work or volunteer with children are managed fairly, consistently, and in line with statutory guidance.

This is an excellent opportunity to utilise your safeguarding expertise while enjoying the flexibility, variety, and professional development opportunities that locum work provides.

Perks and benefits:

• Part Time / Full Time: Enjoy the flexibility to create a working pattern that suits your personal and professional commitments.

• Hourly Pay: Earn a competitive rate of £40.00 per hour, rewarding your specialist safeguarding knowledge and experience.

• Professional Growth: Access ongoing learning and development opportunities to enhance your expertise within safeguarding and children's services.

• Networking Opportunities: Work alongside a wide range of professionals and agencies, expanding your professional network and knowledge.

• Dynamic Work Environment: Engage with varied and complex safeguarding matters that keep your role interesting, challenging, and rewarding.

• Flexible Locum Working: Benefit from the autonomy and adaptability that locum work offers while maintaining a strong work-life balance.

• Meaningful Impact: Play a crucial role in ensuring children are protected and safeguarding concerns are managed effectively and fairly.

What you will do:

• Referral Management: Receive and manage referrals relating to allegations against adults working or volunteering with children.

• Threshold Decision-Making: Assess referrals and determine whether they meet the criteria for LADO involvement.

• Safeguarding Advice: Provide expert advice and guidance to employers, schools, voluntary organisations, foster carers, and partner agencies.

• Multi-Agency Coordination: Coordinate safeguarding responses involving professionals, volunteers, agency staff, and foster carers where allegations or concerns have arisen.

• Chairing Meetings: Lead and chair Allegation Management Meetings (LADO Meetings), ensuring effective decision-making and accountability.

• Child Protection Oversight: Promote and monitor safeguarding arrangements to ensure the welfare and protection of children remain central to all processes.

• Partnership Working: Work closely with Children's Social Care, police, health professionals, education providers, and other agencies to ensure coordinated responses.

• Investigation Monitoring: Monitor the progress of allegations, investigations, and outcomes to ensure timely and appropriate resolution.

• Policy and Training Development: Contribute to the development of safeguarding policies, procedures, and training programmes.

• Record Keeping: Maintain detailed, accurate, and compliant records, reports, and documentation in accordance with safeguarding frameworks and statutory guidance.

Person Specification:

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work.

• Current Social Work England registration.

• Significant experience within Children's Social Care, including Child Protection and safeguarding practice.

• Experience managing complex safeguarding concerns and undertaking risk assessments.

• Proven ability to chair or contribute to multi-agency safeguarding meetings.

• Experience providing professional safeguarding advice, consultation, and guidance.

• Strong report-writing, analytical, and decision-making skills.

• Comprehensive understanding of statutory safeguarding legislation, guidance, and best practice.

Why Leeds

Leeds is one of the UK's most vibrant and dynamic cities, offering an exceptional combination of culture, community, and opportunity. With its rich history, thriving business sector, excellent transport links, beautiful green spaces, and renowned shopping and entertainment destinations, Leeds provides an outstanding quality of life. As the heart of West Yorkshire, it is an exciting place to develop your career while making a meaningful difference to children and families across the region.

Working with Sanctuary Personnel:

Sanctuary Personnel is a trusted and award-winning agency for roles. With an ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot from over 1,000 reviews and many prestigious industry awards, we are dedicated to finding you the best possible rates in roles that match your skills and experience.

Apply now

Take the next step in your social work career and join Children's Services in Leeds as a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) with Sanctuary Personnel.