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Allegations Against Staff

Any incident where a child or young person or any other person has grounds to believe that a member of staff has crossed the boundary of acceptable behaviour and may have caused harm to a child or young person should be reported.

All allegations should be reported without delay to:

Haringey's Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO)
48 Station Road
London
N22 7TY
Tel: 020 8489 1406
Email: lado@haringey.gov.uk


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Allegations Procedures

Handling allegations, particularly serious ones, is a complex and delicate process. All allegations need to be taken seriously. Good record-keeping is essential to the success of child protection practices.

  1. Allegation is made: All allegations against staff or any observations of inappropriate behaviour by a member of staff should be brought to the attention of a senior member in the organisation in the strictest confidence - their name should be listed in the organisation's Allegations Policy.

  2. Report allegation: The senior member of staff will notify Haringey's Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) immediately. Early Years settings and childminders must also report the allegation to Ofsted at this stage.

  3. Initiate allegations procedures: The LADO will decide whether the incident fits the criteria of an Allegation Against Staff. In other words: Did the alleged incident potentially cause harm to the child? Does the alleged incident potentially constitute a criminal offence? Does the alleged incident suggest that this person is potentially unsuitable to work with children? Allegations procedures are clearly outlined in Safeguarding Children & Safer Recruitment in Education (PDF, 1Mb) and should be held to the recommended timescales to avoid unnecessary distress to all involved.

  4. Workplace arrangements: The LADO will advise whether the member of staff should remain in the workplace or whether they should go on 'gardening leave' or be suspended until the investigation is resolved. If the member of staff remains in the workplace, safeguards will be put in place to protect the member of staff and the child/children involved. The member of staff will be advised to contact their union representative and the senior member of staff will keep both the member of staff and the family up to date with regard to timescales of meetings and the procedures being put in place.

  5. Strategy Meeting: The LADO will schedule a strategy meeting with the representative from the organisation and from the Police. A Police check will be conducted prior to the strategy meeting to determine whether any previous incidents involving that member of staff are known.

  6. Decisions and Next Steps: Professionals at the strategy meeting will decide what next steps to take - these may include criminal proceedings, child protection procedures, disciplinary procedures, training needs, or no further action.


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Allegations Guidance


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