Voluntary and Community Settings Policies and Resources
Safeguarding is a fundamental responsibility for all organisations working within Camden’s voluntary and community sector. VCS organisations play a vital role in creating safe, inclusive environments where children are protected from harm, abuse, and neglect.
In Camden, organisations are encouraged to strengthen their safeguarding practice by connecting with Voluntary Action Camden (VAC) who have a safeguarding lead to support VCS organisations in Camden.
VAC provides advice, training, and resources to help community groups and charities build strong governance, develop safe practice, and meet their safeguarding responsibilities effectively.
Safeguarding Children | Voluntary Action Camden
Effective safeguarding requires clear policies, robust procedures, and an embedded culture of continued curiosity and accountability. VCS Organisations should ensure their safeguarding arrangements reflect national best practice while also aligning with local expectations and partnerships across Camden.
Key safeguarding measures should include:
- Safeguarding and Child Protection policies which include clear procedures for responding to concerns or allegations
- Safer recruitment practices, including appropriate checks (e.g. DBS)
- Codes of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Ongoing safeguarding training and awareness
- Systems to enable volunteers on reporting, recording, and escalating concerns
- Policies on for online safety and use of digital devices in settings
The Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) has written detailed guidance to support this, The Guide to Developing a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy (2026) emphasises that any organisation delivering activities for children must have a written safeguarding policy and procedures that set out how children will be kept safe, alongside clear leadership and accountability for safeguarding within the organisation.
There is also detailed NSPCC guidance on developing and implementing policies for VCS organisations and this can be found via the NSPCC’s dedicated resource for voluntary and community groups.
By embedding strong safeguarding arrangements into everyday practice, Camden’s VCS organisations can ensure they are not only meeting statutory and good practice expectations but also contributing to a borough-wide commitment to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all residents.
LADO
Managing Allegations Against Staff and Volunteers
If you would like to refer a case to the Camden Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) where it is alleged that a person working with children has:
- behaved in a way that has harmed a child or may have harmed a child
- possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child;
- behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she may pose a risk of harm to children; or
- behaved or may have behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children (a transferrable risk).
The Designated LADO for Children in Camden is Jacqueline Fearon.
How to refer
The responsible officer should complete the Camden LADO agency reporting form and email this to the Camden LADO mailbox LADO@camden.gov.uk
The mailbox is regularly checked by the Camden LADO and who will contact the referrer as soon as possible to discuss the case and decide what action to take.
In cases where it is necessary to speak directly to the Camden LADO, responsible officers can call 020 7974 4556 and ask to speak to the Camden LADO. Referrers may reach a voicemail message and be asked to leave a message but this will be returned as soon as possible.
It is strongly recommended that a referral is sent to the Camden LADO mailbox in the first instance.
