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: Agency Decision Maker (Adoption)
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on fostering matters (on the basis of recommendations of the Fostering Panel).
Post title: Agency Decision Maker (Fostering)
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Adoption Panel members.
Post title: Panel Advisor
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
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: Strategic Manager for Corporate Parenting
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
The manager who can authorise the final Care Plan to be taken before the Court within Care Proceedings.
Post title: Service Manager (for the team holding case responsibility)
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
The manager who can authorise the initiating of Care Proceedings.
Post title: Children's Services Service Manager
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
The manager who can authorise the change of name of a Looked After Child.
Post title: Service Manager (for the team holding case responsibility)
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
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 Manager (for the team holding case responsibility)
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
The senior manager who should be notified in the event of death or serious injury to a child.
Post title: Director of Children's Social Care
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
The manager who can agree funeral arrangements following the death of a looked after child.
Post title: Look After Child Service Manager If the service manager is unavailable, a team manager for the LAC service can agree arrangements.
Contact details:
Grafton Court
Kettering Parkway
Venture Park
Kettering
NN15 6XR
The manager who can authorise a child becoming Looked After.
Post title: Children's Services Assistant Director
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
The manager who can authorise an application for an Emergency Protection Order.
Post title: Children's Services Assistant Director
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked after child outside England and Wales.
Post title: Children's Services Strategic Manager
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
The manager who can authorise any exemptions from the usual fostering limit for foster carers living in the local authority area.
Post title: Assistant Director Corporate Parenting
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 368880
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:
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Fostering Panel members
Post title: Panel Advisor
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
The manager who can approve a Pathway Plan.
Post title: Team Manager Leaving Care
Contact details: Via Leaving Care Team
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: MASH Team Manager
The manager who can authorise a passport application for a Looked After child.
Post title: Service Manager (for the team holding responsibility)
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
The manager who can authorise an application for a Placement Order.
Post title: Service Manager (for the team holding responsibility)
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
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: Strategic Manager Safeguarding
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
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 Social Care
Contact details: One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
The manager who can authorise Special Guardianship as the permanence plan for a Looked After child.
Post title: Children's Services Service Manager
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
The manager who can authorise the level of special guardianship support to be provided, including financial support to special guardians.
Post title: Strategic Manager for Corporate Parenting
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
Depending on the amount being approved, payment authorisation must be obtained from the either the:
- Team Manager;
- Service Manager;
- Strategic Manage;
- NCT Approval Panel / ECP.
Values and Approval Levels:
Petty Cash
Values up to and including £100 – Team Manager
Values of £100.01 - £500 – Service Manager
Values of £500.01 and over – Approval Panel
Taxi Ad hoc forms
Values up to and including £500 net – Team Manager. Strategic Manager final sign-off on the invoice
Values of £500.01 and over – Panel
Interfaced Payment and Purchase Orders
Values up to and including £500 net – Strategic Manager
Values of £500.01 and over – Panel
The Service Manager of the Disabled Children Team.
Post title: Service Manager of the Disabled Children's Team
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
A Service Manager or Team Manger depending on the cost.
Post title: Adoption, Permanence and Post Order – Service Manager or Team Manager for post order support.
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
A Strategic Manager
Post title: Strategic Manager as chair of the Admissions and Legal Planning Panels
29. Designated Manager (Decision to Apply for Discharge or Variation of a Care or Supervision Order)
A Strategic Manager
Post title: Strategic Manager as chair of the Admissions and Legal Planning Panels
A Strategic Manager as chair of the New Admissions and Legal Planning Panel)
In an emergency, if the Safeguarding and Care Planning Strategic Manager is an unavailable, a decision can be made by a Safeguarding and Care Planning Service Manager.
Post title: Strategic Manager as chair of the Admissions and Legal Planning Panels
Chair of Placement Planning Meeting (Service Manager).
Post title: Service Manager (for the team holding responsibility)
Contact details: Via the team holding case responsibility.
Post title: Adoption and SGO Support Team Duty
Contact details:
Tel: 01604 367301
The manager who can authorise the change of placement affecting a Looked After child in Key Stage 4.
Post title: Assistant Director (for the team holding case responsibility)
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
The person who can authorise Fostering for Adoption.
Post title: Strategic Manager for Corporate Parenting
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority.
Post title: Assistant Director
Contact details:
Via the team holding case responsibility
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
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 Manager for Fostering (or Service Manager for Adoption)
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
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
Via the team holding case responsibility
Contact details:
One Angel Square
4 Angel Street,
Northampton,
NN1 1ED
Tel: 01604 361790
Last Updated: March 24, 2025
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