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.
Please note that in the event that the designated manager is unavailable then the line of responsibility moves to their line manager.
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.
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: Assistant Director, with agreement from Director of Corporate Parenting
The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on fostering matters (on the basis of recommendations of the Fostering Panel).
Post title: Assistant Director with agreement from Director of Corporate Parenting
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Adoption Panel members.
Post title: Head of Service, Adoption South East
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, Adoption South East
The manager who can authorise the final Care Plan to be taken before the Court within Care Proceedings.
Post title: Assistant Director
The manager who can authorise the initiating of Care Proceedings.
Post title: Assistant Director with Legal advice.
The manager who can authorise the change of name of a Looked After Child.
Post title: Assistant 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: Team Manager with Legal advice
The senior manager who should be notified in the event of death or serious injury to a child.
Post title: Director and Director of Children’s Services
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: Assistant Director
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: Assistant Director with Legal advice
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked after child outside England and Wales.
Post title: Director of Corporate Parenting and 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: Service Manager
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: Assistant Director
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Fostering Panel members
Post title: Service Manager
The manager who can approve a Pathway Plan.
Post title: Service 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: Assistant Director
The manager who can authorise a passport application for a Looked After child.
Post title: Service Manager
The manager who can authorise an application for a Placement Order.
Post title: Assistant 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: Assistant Director
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 Corporate Parenting with agreement from Director of Children’s Services.
The manager who can authorise Special Guardianship as the permanence plan for a Looked After child.
Post title: Assistant Director
The manager who can authorise the level of special guardianship support to be provided, including financial support to special guardians.
Post title: Service Manager with agreement from Assistant Director
The manager who can authorise the change of placement affecting a Looked After child in Key Stage 4.
Post title: Assistant Director
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority.
Post title: Director of Corporate Parenting with agreement from Director of Children’s Services
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: Assistant 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: Assistant Director
The manager who can authorise leaving care for 16 and 17 year olds accommodated under Section 20.
Post title: Assistant Director
Last Updated: April 7, 2026
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