Responsibility of the Designated Officer

For this assessment criterion, you will be required to explain the role of the Designated Officer.

The Designated Officer or Safeguarding Lead within an organisation is a named person that has the responsibility for implementing and enforcing organisational safeguarding policies and procedures and overseeing the management of safeguarding concerns. They will also be responsible for collecting information relating to a safeguarding concern that may need to be passed on to the local authority.

The Care Act 2014 Guidance introduced Designated Adult Safeguarding Managers (DASM), that work for the local authority and are responsible for managing safeguarding concerns and allegations that are referred to them. However, subsequent guidance from the government revealed that these were not necessary as many local authorities already had organisational roles that carried out these responsibilities.

Local authorities also have a position for a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). Their role is to oversee individual cases of concerns or allegations towards people that work with children.

You will find it useful to research the safeguarding organisational structure, roles and responsibilities that are provided by your own local authority.

Assessment criteria

Learners explain the role of the Designated Officer.