Location: Aylesbury
Overview
Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children, strengthening safeguarding practice, and using data to drive meaningful change? Join us as an Assistant Local Authority Designated Officer (Assistant LADO) and play a vital role in helping ensure children are protected, partners are well supported, and safeguarding systems are robust and effective.
This is an exciting opportunity to work within Children’s Services, supporting the LADO team to respond proactively to concerns, strengthen processes, and contribute to service-wide improvement. If you’re analytical, curious, well-organised and committed to high‑quality safeguarding practice, we’d love to hear from you.
About us
Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.
We are looking for motivated, ambitious and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.
About the role
As the Assistant LADO, you will support and enhance the work of the LADO team by providing expert data analysis, informed decision‑making, and high‑quality operational support. You will be a key point of contact for LADO enquiries, helping to assess initial thresholds alongside the duty LADO and ensuring timely, accurate responses.
In this role, you will:
1. Analyse data, trends and performance to identify risks, patterns and opportunities for improvement.
2. Provide specialist advice on LADO processes, systems and legislation to internal teams and external stakeholders.
3. Support the delivery of training, briefings and materials to partners across the safeguarding landscape.
4. Lead or contribute to projects aimed at improving systems, processes, and multi‑agency safeguarding practice.
5. Support the development and review of LADO policies, procedures and business processes.
6. Manage information effectively, producing high‑quality reports, presentations and updates for managers and partners.
7. Coordinate meetings, events and surveys to support service development.
8. Work collaboratively across teams, ensuring clear communication, strong partnerships and consistent safeguarding responses.
This is a role where every day is different, requiring strong judgement, attention to detail, and the ability to navigate sensitive and complex information.
About you
You’ll thrive in this role if you are analytical, organised, and motivated by improving safeguarding outcomes. You will bring a balance of technical capability, professional curiosity and strong interpersonal skills.
We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate:
9. Experience working within a large organisation, ideally within Children’s Services or a similar safeguarding environment.
10. Strong data analysis skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, spot trends and draw insights.
11. Knowledge of safeguarding legislation, especially around allegations management and multi‑agency responsibilities.
12. Excellent ICT skills, including Microsoft Office and specialist systems such as LCS, BI tools or the Power Platform.
13. Clear communication and influencing skills, with the ability to explain technical processes in an accessible way.
14. Strong organisation and time‑management, able to handle competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
15. Experience of contributing to policies, procedures or service improvements.
16. A proactive, solution‑focused mindset, with judgement to escalate issues when needed.
A degree (or equivalent experience), understanding of LADO processes, and a full driving licence are also required.
If you are proud, ambitious, collaborative and trustworthy—and you care deeply about improving safeguarding for children—this could be the perfect next step in your career.