Job title: Deputy Local Authority Designated Officer

Salary: PO5 £47,754 - £50,788

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: Hybrid – home working/Belle Isle Foundation

Due to an expansion in our service, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Team are seeking to appoint a Deputy LADO to join our Integrated Safeguarding Unit. In this role, you will provide support and oversight of the management of allegations against people working with children from settings and agencies across the city. The Deputy LADO will work on a duty system, providing initial advance and triaging of LADO contacts and undertaking effective risk assessment to determine what further steps may be needed. They will also develop our training offer to raise awareness and develop confidence in managing allegations across the children’s workforce.

We need someone who is passionate about ensuring that those who work with children are safe to do so, and who can use their relational approach to build effective relationships with partners. You will need to be a strong communicator, an ability to think and act strategically and excellent organisational skills to manage the fast-paced work. You will be able to work under your own initiative and to ensure that processes and procedures are followed. You will be highly professional, with a comprehensive understanding of harm and abuse as well as data protection, local and national policies and procedures.

This is a hybrid role which involves a balance of home and office-based working.

You will hold a social work qualification and have current registration with Social Work England. This role also requires relevant post-qualifying experience in safeguarding and you must have the right to live and work in the UK.

For an informal discussion, please contact Nicole Woodward, Service Delivery Manager, on 0113 3784822 or nicole.woodward@leeds.gov.uk. 

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £38,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

As a council our ambition is to be the Best City in the UK, and we want Leeds to be the best city for children and young people to grow up in.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We promote diversity and want our workforce to reflect the population of Leeds.

Throughout the council, our work and behaviours are influenced by our council values of:

• Being open, honest and trusted
• Treating people fairly
• Spending money wisely
• Working as a team for Leeds
• Working with all communities

Visit Child Friendly Leeds to find out how we are working with people and organisations across Leeds to achieve our vision for children and young people.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds.

Special Conditions: this post is subject to a higher level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.

Job Purpose:  The role of the Deputy LADO is to assist and support the LADO Service in responding effectively and confidently to allegations against people who work with children within the Local Authority area, from all organisations offering a service to children. To ensure high standards of professional practice consistent with legislation and statutory guidance, specifically Children Act 2004, Working Together 2023, and Dealing with Allegations of Abuse against Staff who Work with Children. To work collaboratively with all relevant organisations in developing and promoting good practice, and achieving the best outcomes, for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people.

Responsibilities:

• To be the first point of contact for all allegations made against people who work with children and young people, and to decide on most appropriate action.

• To manage a busy and fast-paced caseload of contacts into the LADO Team as part of a duty rota and undertaking appropriate enquiries, liaison and decision-making on the next steps.

• To monitor the progress of cases, to ensure that they are dealt with as quickly as possible within set timescales, and consistent with a thorough and fair process.

• To identify complex and high-risk cases at an early stage and escalate these to the duty LADO.

• This post demands an increased level of autonomy and decision making, based on experience and knowledge, around the case allocated and reporting to the LADO on case progress, risks, and outcomes.

• To support the Team Managers (LADO) in:

o          overseeing and decision-making regarding cases

o          ensuring case work is appropriately planned, critically evaluated, and reviewed

o          achieving timescales and targets in respect to performance indicators

• To maintain an information database in relation to all allegations, advice given, actions taken, and decisions made, and produce appropriate Management Reports.

• To develop and deliver training, resources and consultation for both internal and external partners.

• To provide direction and development in consistent application of thresholds.

• Where appropriate, to deputise for the LADO Team Managers such as by chairing Allegations Management Meetings.

• To contribute to strategic developments and support the embedding of excellent practice across the city.

• To represent the LADO Service in activities of relevant strategic partnerships, such as the Safeguarding Partnership (including membership of subgroups and preparation of reviews) and the Multi Agency Looked After Partnership.

• To maintain effective links with all agencies involved in child protection work.

• Contribute to departmental working parties as required.

• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade. 

• Lead on and participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills to meet national standards.

• To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.

• To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.

• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.

• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.

• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.

• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

The post requires an appropriate professional qualification (DipSW, Degree, CQSW or equivalent).  You should be registered with Social Work England upon commencement of the post and maintain registration. 

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities:  Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate.

Skills Required

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate. 

• Able to critically apply social work theory in practice.

• Able to identify indicators of risk and carry out effective risk assessment.

• Able to communicate, negotiate and influence a wide range of practitioners, managers and partners from other agencies.

• Able to present and disseminate information to support learning and development of social care staff and partners.

• Able to provide appropriate challenge to partner agencies.

• Able to chair meetings.

• Competent in the use of ICT.

• Able to lead practice development.

Knowledge Required

• Extensive knowledge of relevant childcare legislation including that relating to allegations against professionals.

• Of current developments affecting the provision of children’s services from a legal, political, and social policy context.

• Of social work practice issues.

• Of restorative approaches to social work.

• Extensive knowledge of child protection issues and best practice.

• Understanding of the work of other key agencies and links to social work practice.

• Extensive knowledge of social work theory and methods that underpin practice.

• In depth knowledge of current research findings and their implication to practice.

• Evidence of continuous professional development since qualification.

Experience Required

• Extensive post qualifying experience in Children and Families Work in a Local Authority setting with demonstrable experience in a child protection setting.

• Of developing inter agency and multi-disciplinary approaches to work with children, families and partner agencies.

• Of taking part in complex meetings involving conflict.

• Of preparing and presenting high quality reports on complex issues to a range of different audiences.

• Extensive experience of using a range of social work interventions to undertake assessments of risk.

Behavioural & other characteristics required

• Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.

• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.

• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.

• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.

• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.

• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.

• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.

• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.

• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.

• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.

• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS:

Skills Required

• Car driver