Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) privacy notice  

Who is the data controller for the information I provide?

Liverpool City Council is the data controller for the information that you provide and is committed to protecting your personal information, and ensuring that processes and procedures are in place to make us compliant with data protection regulations. 

Why we collect your data

Liverpool City Council has a statutory responsibility to have a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who is responsible for coordinating the response to concerns that an adult who works with children may have caused them or could cause them harm. Although the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) works within Children’s Services the role covers all organisation’s working within the City and gives advice and guidance to employers, organisations and other individuals who have concerns about an adult who works with children and young people.

In all cases we have procedures in place that allows this to be carried out in a secure and confidential manner. 

What is the legal basis for collecting and processing this data?

All organisations must provide a legal basis for processing your information. In most cases this is found in the new data laws of the General Data Protection Regulation [GDPR] and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We collect and use your personal information to comply with our legal obligations, and to carry out tasks in the public interest. If we need to collect special category (sensitive) personal information, we rely upon reasons of substantial public interest (equality of opportunity or treatment), for the provision of social care, for social security or social protection law, and for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims whenever Courts are acting in their judicial capacity.

We rely on the following laws and guidance to process your personal data:

  • Children Act 1989
  • Children Act 2004
  • Children and Social Work Act 2017
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
  • Keeping Children Safe in Education 2016

The information we may collect

In the course of managing concerns, including allegations of harm, against an adult who works with children, we collect the following personal information when you provide it to us:

  • personal information (such as name, address, contact details, date of birth, gender)
  • special category characteristics (such as ethnicity and disability)
  • details of family relationships, including those of extended family
  • information gathered during child protection processes (during Section 47 enquiries/investigations and Child Protection Conferences)
  • details relating to paid or voluntary employment

Who may your information be shared with?

  • appropriate and authorised teams within the Local Authority classed as Children’s Services
  • commissioned providers of local authority services (such as Independent Foster Care Agencies, Children’s Homes, Semi-Independent Accommodation Providers, Supported Lodgings Providers, Residential Special Schools and Secure accommodation)
  • police
  • specialist children’s services
  • other Local Authorities
  • Education settings including Early Years, academies, private, independent and unregistered schools
  • NHS England
  • employers, including voluntary and charity organisations
  • NSPCC
  • OFSTED
  • Care Quality Commission
  • Crown Prosecution Service

How long will you keep this information for?

  • Allegation results in joint S47 investigation or single agency criminal investigation - 40 years from the date of referral.
  • Substantiated allegation - 40 years from date of referral.
  • Risk by Association - 10 years from date of referral, or until the person has reached normal retirement age (65 years) if that is longer.
  • All other LADO contacts - 6 years from date of contact (The Limitation Act 1980).
  • Register of Persons Posing a Risk to Children and those cautioned or convicted of offences against children - 75 years from the date of the caution/conviction.

Please see What we do with your data for the council's full retention schedule.

How will my information be stored?

Your information will be stored securely on our computer databases. Access to these databases will be restricted to those who are entitled to view and process your data. If the information is collected in a paper format we will also ensure it is kept secure and destroyed when no longer required.

Will my data be transferred abroad? 

In certain circumstances your information may be shared with an international organisation outside the UK. In all cases we will ensure this meets the conditions of GDPR Articles 44-50

What rights do I have when it comes to my data?

You have a number of rights that are set out on the How to access your data page of this section.

Where can I get advice?

View our Help and advice page for more information.