If it is known or thought that a child has suffered, or is at risk of suffering, significant harm, child protection procedures must be implemented i.e. the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) must refer immediately to social care.
In some circumstances a referral to social care, where an adult working with children is implicated, may be made directly by the designated senior manager within an organization or setting, or by another person, without prior consultation with the LADO. If this is the case, the LADO should be informed by social care within 1 working day.
