List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers
Scope of this chapter
This chapter contains a list of the designated managers who have the delegated authority to make the decisions indicated.
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.
Amendment
These details were revised in November 2023.
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: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on fostering matters (on the basis of recommendations of the Fostering Panel).
Post title: Director Children Social Care and Early Help
Contact details: 01204 332010
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Adoption Panel members.
Post title: Head of Service, Regional Adoption Agency
Contact details: 01204 332 458
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 Service, Regional Adoption Agency
Contact details: 01204 332 458
The manager who can authorise the final Care Plan to be taken before the Court within Care Proceedings.
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
The manager who can authorise the initiating of Care Proceedings.
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Placements and Resources
Contact details: 01204 337 464
The manager who can authorise the change of name of a Looked After Child.
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
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: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
The senior manager who should be notified in the event of death or serious injury to a child.
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01204 33 72 011
Note - Agreement is via the Legal Gateway Planning Meeting process (either on a forward planned or retrospective basis)
The manager who can authorise a child becoming Looked After.
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
Post title: Head of Service - Children’s Placements and Resources
Contact details: 01204 337 464
Note – Head of Service agreement is via the Legal Gateway Planning Meeting process (either on a forward planned or retrospective basis)
The manager who can authorise an application for an Emergency Protection Order.
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
Post title: Head of Service - Children’s Placements and Resources
Contact details: 01204 337 464
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked after child outside England and Wales.
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01204 33 2011
The manager who can authorise any exemptions from the usual fostering limit for foster carers living in the local authority area.
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Placements and Resources
Contact details: 01204 337 464
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: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Fostering Panel members
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Placements and Resources
Contact details: 01204 337 464
The manager who can approve a Pathway Plan.
Post title: Head of Service Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
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: Head of Service Conferencing, Reviewing and Safeguarding Partnership
Contact details: 07957 380620
The manager who can authorise a passport application for a Looked After child.
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
The manager who can authorise an application for a Placement Order.
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Placements and Resources
Contact details: 01204 337 464
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 Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
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: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01204 33 2011
The manager who can authorise Special Guardianship as the permanence plan for a Looked After child.
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Placement and Resources
Contact details: 01204 337 464
The manager who can authorise the level of special guardianship support to be provided, including financial support to special guardians.
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Placement and Resources
Contact details: 01204 337 464
The manager who can authorise the change of placement affecting a Looked After child in Key Stage 4.
Post title: Assistant Director, Social Care and Early Help
Contact details: 01204 337295
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority.
Note - Out of Authority Placements costing more than £1,000 per week to be authorised by the Director of Children’s Social Care and Assistant Director Children's Social Care and Early Help
Note - Out of Authority Residential Placements to be authorised by the Director of Children’s Social Care and Assistant Director Children's Social Care and Early Help
Post title: Director of Children’s Social Services
Contact details: 01204 332010
Post title: Assistant Director Children's Social Care and Early Help
Contact details: 01204 33 2011
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
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: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
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: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Post title: Head of Service - Children's Safeguarding
Contact details: 01204 337 431
Post title: Head of Service - Looked After Children and Leaving Care
Contact details: 01204 337 412
The manager who can authorise leaving care for 16 and 17 year olds accommodated under Section 20.
Post title: Assistant Director, Social Care and Early Help
Contact details: 01204 33 2011
Post title: Senior Head of Service
Contact details: 01942 634 585
Last Updated: December 12, 2023
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