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
Amendment
In February 2026, this chapter was updated.
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
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
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: February 27, 2026
v63
You can translate the content of this page by selecting a language in the select box.
Copyright © tri.x