1.9  Managing Allegations against Staff & Volunteers 

 Aim

Our aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment which secures the well-being and very best outcomes for the children at our school. We do recognise that sometimes the behaviour and actions of adults may lead to an allegation of abuse being made. 

Allegations sometimes arise from a differing understanding of the same event, but when they occur, they are distressing and difficult for all concerned. We also recognise that many allegations are genuine and there are some adults who deliberately seek to harm or abuse children. 

We will take all possible steps to safeguard our children and to ensure that the adults in our school are safe to work with children. We will always ensure that the procedures outlined in Hertfordshire Safeguarding Children Board Inter-Agency Procedures and Part 4 of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, DfE (2016) are adhered to and will seek appropriate advice from the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). 

Meeting the Threshold

Firstly, it is important to establish if you consider the offence/allegation to meet the threshold that requires the intervention of the LADO. The threshold is as following:

It is alleged that a person who works with children (paid or unpaid) has:

o   Behaved in a way that has, or may have harmed a child;

o   Possibly committed a criminal offence against/related to a child;

o   Behaved toward a child in a way that indicated he or she would pose a risk of harm;

o   Behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicated they may not be suitable to work with children

Procedure

o   If you have concerns that a child has suffered significant harm or is at risk from an adult (staff/volunteer) your first action must be to also call Children Services on 0300 123 4043 or if urgent the Police.

o   If the threshold has been met, complete the LADO referral form which is located in the safeguarding folder. This folder can be found in the draw that is labelled “safeguarding” in the main preschool room. 

o   If the threshold has not been met report to the manager so disciplinary procedures can be considered. 

 Reviewed: 05/10/2021