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: Deputy Director (Children Services)
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on fostering matters (on the basis of recommendations of the Fostering Panel).
Post title: Deputy Director (Children Services)
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
or
Post title: Head of Safeguarding
Contact details: 020 8871 7858
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 CLA and Leaving Care
Contact details: 020 8871 6259
The manager who can authorise the final Care Plan to be taken before the Court within Care Proceedings.
Post title:
Service Managers (in discussion with HoS)
HoS where complex planning, overseas involvement, or financial complexity.
Contact details:
Service Managers
ASH 020 8871 8944
FS Tooting Cluster 020 8871 6326
FS Roehampton 0208 871 8979
FS Battersea Cluster 07974 592 872
CLA 020 8871 6259
Adolescent 0208 8871 5395
HoS ASH 0208 871 8944
HoS Family Safeguarding 0208 871 6998
HoS CLA 0208 871 6467
HoS Adolescents 0797 194 9229
The manager who can authorise the initiating of Care Proceedings.
Post title: Deputy Director
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
The manager who can authorise the change of name of a Looked After Child.
Post title: Service Managers (in discussion with HoS)
Contact details:
Service Managers
ASH 020 8871 8944
FS Tooting Cluster 020 8871 6326
FS Roehampton 0208 871 8979
FS Battersea Cluster 07974 592 872
CLA 020 8871 6259
Adolescent 0208 8871 5395
HoS ASH 0208 871 8944
HoS Family Safeguarding 0208 871 6998
HoS CLA 0208 871 6467
HoS Adolescents 0797 194 9229
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 Managers (in discussion with HoS)
Contact details:
Service Managers
ASH 020 8871 8944
FS Tooting Cluster 020 8871 6326
FS Roehampton 0208 871 8979
FS Battersea Cluster 07974 592 872
Adolescent 0208 8871 5395
CLA 020 8871 6259
HoS ASH 0208 871 8944
HoS Family Safeguarding 0208 871 6998
HoS CLA 0208 871 6467
Hos Adolescent 0797 194 9229
The senior manager who should be notified in the event of death or serious injury to a child.
Post title: Deputy Director (Children Services)
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
The manager who can authorise a child becoming Looked After.
Post title: Deputy Director (Children Services)
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
The manager who can authorise an application for an Emergency Protection Order.
Post title: Deputy Director (Children Services)
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked after child outside England and Wales.
Post title: Service Managers (in discussion with HoS)
Contact details:
Service Managers
ASH 020 8871 8944
FS Tooting Cluster 020 8871 6326
FS Roehampton 0208 871 8979
FS Battersea Cluster 07974 592 872
CLA 020 8871 6259
Adolescent 0208 8871 5395
HoS ASH 0208 871 8944
HoS Family Safeguarding 0208 871 6998
HoS CLA 0208 871 6467
HoS Adolescent 0797 194 9229
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 CLA
Contact details: 020 8871 7547
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: Deputy Director Children's Services
HoS ASH for OOH 0208 871 8944
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Fostering Panel members
Post title: Head of CLA
Contact details: 020 8871 7547
The manager who can approve a Pathway Plan.
Post title: Team Managers
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 Practice amd PSW
Contact details: 020 8871 7317
The manager who can authorise a passport application for a Looked After child.
Post title: Deputy Director (Children's Services)
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
Post title: Head of CLA and Leaving Care / Service Manager CLA
Contact details: 0208 871 6467
The manager who can authorise an application for a Placement Order.
Post title: Deputy Director Children's Services
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
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 Children Looked After
Contact details: 020 8871 7547
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 Services
Contact details: 020 8871 7891
The manager who can authorise Special Guardianship as the permanence plan for a Looked After child.
Post title: Service Managers in consultation with HoS Children Looked After
Contact details: 020 8871 7547
The manager who can authorise the level of special guardianship support to be provided, including financial support to special guardians.
Post title: Service Manager Fostering
Contact details: 020 8871 7547
The manager who can authorise the change of placement affecting a Looked After child in Key Stage 4.
Post title: Deputy Director Children's Services
Contact details: 020 8871 7891
The person who can authorise Fostering for Adoption.
Post title: Deputy Director Children's Services
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority.
Post title: Deputy Director Children's Services
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
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: HOS in discussion with Deputy Director Children's Services
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
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: Deputy Director Children's Services
Contact details: 020 8871 6916
Post title: Deputy Director Children's Services in consultation with HoS for CLA
Contact details: 020 8871 6467
Last Updated: February 6, 2025
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