6. Concerns about adults who work with children

The LADO responsible for the case may require a meeting to be called.

Multiple Agency LADO meeting (MALM)

• Chaired by a LADO and include the manager from the setting as appropriate or if the concern is about the manager, another appropriate person (e.g. committee chair); police; local authority representative and other relevant professionals including Ofsted where the setting is registered with Ofsted and where a childminder is the subject of the allegation
• Held when the case meets the LADO threshold and requires all relevant professionals to meet to decide actions and outcomes
• Each professional attending the MALM would be expected to bring relevant information to share at the meeting. Further advice about this can be sought from the LADO. There is also guidance on the Norfolk Safeguarding Children Partnership (NSCP) website for all meeting attendees

Outcome: Advice and guidance and recommendations from the LADO meeting is followed.

Once the investigation is completed, a report needs to be prepared for the final outcomes MALM. Refer to guidance from LADO.

Recording and storage of information relating to allegations of abuse made against adults in the setting

It is important that the identified manager keeps the following:

• A clear and detailed summary of any allegations made
• Details of how the allegation was followed up and resolved
• Details of any action taken and decisions reached should be kept on the adult's confidential personnel file. A copy of the summary of the allegation should be given to the adult subject to the concern.

The full minutes/records of the MALM must not be given to the person subject of the allegation. They may apply for the record through the Norfolk County Council Information Management Service, once the process has been concluded.

The information about the allegation process should be retained on file, including for adults who leave the setting, at least until the adult reaches normal retirement age or for 10 years if that is longer

More detailed information regarding individual members of staff relating to disciplinary hearings, suitability or concerns about adults reported to a LADO should only be accessed by the manager of the setting and, where advice was sought from a human resources (HR) department, that department would have a copy of appropriate information. This information must be stored safely and securely in a locked cabinet in a file separate from all children's files and separate from general staff confidential files

The investigation needs to accurately reflect the views and account of the person of concern regarding the allegation against them.

Where the information is about the manager of the setting this will only be accessed by the manager's employer if relevant.

Confidentiality must be respected.

At the outcome of any LADO discussions/meetings, advice can be sought from the LADO about storage of the information.

Any recording associated with a LADO issue must be kept confidential in accordance with record retention requirements.