The HM Government Guidance Working Together to Safeguard Children (2010) sets out the role of the LADO.
Appendix 5 outlines the procedures for managing allegation against people who work with children.

The LADO is situated within children's services and should be alerted to all cases in which it is alleged that a person who works with children has:

• behaved in a way that has harmed or may have harmed a child
• possibly committed a criminal offence against children
• behaves towards a child in way that indicates they are unsuitable to work with children.

A LADO helps co-ordinate information sharing with the correct people.
They monitor and track any investigation with the expectation that it is resolved as quickly as possible. 

The LADO is involved from the initial phase of the allegation through to the conclusion of the case.