List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers
Scope of this chapter
NOTE: Consent to life-ending withdrawal of medical support for a child will require an application to the High Court even if all relevant parties are in agreement. Legal advice must be sought as a matter of urgency.
Related guidance
The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on all adoption matters (some of which will be made on the basis of a recommendation of the Adoption Panel).
Post title: Director of Children’s Services
The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on fostering matters (on the basis of recommendations of the Fostering Panel).
Post title: Director of Children’s Services
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Adoption Panel members.
Post title: Team Manager, Adoption Team
The manager who can authorise the level of adoption support to be provided to children, adopters (including financial support) and their family or birth family members.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise the final Care Plan to be taken before the Court within Care Proceedings.
Post title: Head of Children’s Social Work
The manager who can authorise the initiating of Care Proceedings.
Post title: Head of Children’s Social Work
The manager who can authorise the change of name of a Looked After Child.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise the suspension or termination of contact between a Looked After child and their parents (subject to the Court's approval after 7 days for children on Emergency Protection Orders, Interim Care Orders or Care Orders).
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The senior manager who should be notified in the event of death or serious injury to a child.
Post title: Head of Children’s Social Work
The manager who can authorise a child becoming Looked After.
Post title: Head of Children’s Social Work
The manager who can authorise an application for an Emergency Protection Order.
Post title: Head of Children’s Social Work
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked after child outside England and Wales.
Post title: Director of Children’s Services
The manager who can authorise any exemptions from the usual fostering limit for foster carers living in the local authority area.
Post title: Director of Children’s Services
The manager who can authorise placements of Looked After children with external providers of residential care or foster carers from an independent fostering agency.
Post title: Group Head of Service Children and Families
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Fostering Panel members
Post title: Team Manager, Fostering Team
The manager who can approve a Pathway Plan.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise the marriage/civil partnership of a Looked After child.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
Where a Looked After Child from another local authority has been placed in the area, the manager to whom the notification should be sent.
Post title: Team Manager, Safeguarding
The manager who can authorise a passport application for a Looked After child.
Post title: Team Manager, Corporate Parenting Team
The manager who can authorise an application for a Placement Order.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can approve assessments of private foster carers, impose requirements on private foster carers or decide to prohibit someone from acting as a private foster carer.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise:
A placement of a Looked After child in secure accommodation for up to 72 hours without a Secure Accommodation Order; and/or
An application for a Secure Accommodation Order; and/or
A child's continued secure placement on the recommendation of the Secure Accommodation Review Panel; and/or
Applications to renewal Secure Accommodation Orders on the recommendation of the Secure Accommodation Review Panel.
Post title: Director of Children’s Services
The manager who can authorise Special Guardianship as the permanence plan for a Looked After child.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise the level of special guardianship support to be provided, including financial support to special guardians.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise the change of placement affecting a Looked After child in Key Stage 4.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The person who can authorise Fostering for Adoption.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child with a family or friend ('Connected Person') who is not already approved as a foster carer.
Post title: Head of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child with a parent, person with Parental Responsibility or person who held a Residence Order/Child Arrangements Order specifying with whom the child was to reside immediately before the Care Order.
Post title: Director of Children’s Services
Last Updated: October 31, 2023
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