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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 Safeguarding & Family Support

Service Delivery Manager Children’s Safeguarding and Family Support (Assessment & CATE)

The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on fostering matters (on the basis of recommendations of the Fostering Panel).

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager for Fostering, Adoption & Permanence
Fostering Team Manager with relevant working knowledge of childcare law and practice – three years plus qualified.

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:

Adoption Support Manager, T4C

The manager who can authorise the final Care Plan to be taken before the Court within Care Proceedings.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager

The manager who can authorise the initiating of Care Proceedings.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager

The manager who can authorise the change of name of a Looked After Child.

Post title:

Director

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:

Service Delivery Manager

The senior manager who should be notified in the event of death or serious injury to a child.

Post title:

Director

The manager who can authorise a child becoming Looked After.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager/ Director

The manager who can authorise an application for an Emergency Protection Order.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager/ Director

The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked after child outside England and Wales.

Post title:

Director

The manager who can authorise any exemptions from the usual fostering limit for foster carers living in the local authority area.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager (Fostering)

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:

Director

The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Fostering Panel members

Post title:

Appointed Team Manager Fostering

The manager who can approve a Pathway Plan.

Post title:

Team Manager

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:

Family Connect

The manager who can authorise a passport application for a Looked After child.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager

The manager who can authorise an application for a Placement Order.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager/ Director

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:

Team Manager/Service Delivery Manager

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

The manager who can authorise Special Guardianship as the permanence plan for a Looked After child.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager/ Director

The manager who can authorise the level of special guardianship support to be provided, including financial support to special guardians.

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager

The manager who can authorise the change of placement affecting a Looked After child in Key Stage 4.    

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager

The person who can authorise Fostering for Adoption.

Post title:

Director of Children’s Safeguarding & Family Support

Service Delivery Manager Children’s Safeguarding and Family Support (Assessment & CATE)

The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority.    

Post title:

Service Delivery Manager Director

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:

Service Delivery Manager for Fostering, Adoption and Permanence/Director

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

Last Updated: October 23, 2024

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