Safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings. Phase 2 report April 2023

Safeguarding children with disabilities and complex health needs in residential settings. Phase 2 report April 2023

The Government today released the phase two report into the Hesley Group of residential placements with education. The report welcomes the developm,ent of a ” LADO Handbook ” and recommends that “The strengthened role for the LADO should include the expectation to work proactively across local authority boundaries, analysing and sharing information between the host authority, placing local authorities and regulators in respect of workforce concerns relating to staff in residential settings.” See the whole report at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-children-with-disabilities-in-residential-settings

NLN reviews and updates The LADO Principles Document

The NLN developed a set of principles to support LADOs in practicing what can be a lonely role. The principles , located on the website are intended to support LADOs in offering commonly agreed appropaches to the management of allegations. After 4 years, the NLN is reviewing the document and the results will be shared with regional Groups in the new year

Sad News : Uzma Bhatti : LADO Sandwell

It is with sadness that we share the sad news of the death of Uzma Bhatti, Local Authority Designated officer for Sandwell, a post she held for 9 years.  Uzma was a founding member of the National LADO Network and became it’s chair following her involvement in the West Midlands organising the third National LADO Conference in April 2017.

During her time as chair of the NLN, she established links with a variety of national organisations and Government departments and was a significant figure in the progress and development of the group. She will be remembered for her fighting spirit, sound principles, child centred practice who pushed hard to effect necessary change. Indeed, she challenged appropriately and held herself with dignity and grace. She represented the West Midlands Regional with a very clear focus on the role of the LADO, and the responsibilities of the Regulatory bodies.

She leaves us with a memory of someone that would laugh at her own mistakes, and offer words of wisdom and comfort when others needed it.  She will be much missed by her colleagues in the LADO world and we would like to offer our condolences to her family friends and colleagues at this sad time. We understand that the funeral will be sometime this week