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
This chapter was updated in July 2024.
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 Social Care
Contact details: kerry.birtles@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on fostering matters (on the basis of recommendations of the Fostering Panel).
Post title: Head of Children's Provider Services
Contact details: samantha.derbyshire@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Adoption Panel members.
Post title: Head of Service: Adoption Counts
Contact details: gail.spray@adoptioncounts.org.uk
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: Cared for Children & Care Leavers
Contact details: annemarie.parker@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The manager who can authorise the final Care Plan to be taken before the Court within Care Proceedings.
Post title: Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers / Cared for Children Service Manager
Contact details:
annemarie.parker@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The manager who can authorise the initiating of Care Proceedings.
Post title: Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection / Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise the change of name of a Looked After Child.
Post title: Director of Children’s Social Care
Contact details: kerry.birtles@cheshireeast.gov.uk
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: Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers / Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection
Contact details:
The senior manager who should be notified in the event of death or serious injury to a child.
Post title: Executive Director of Children’s Services / Director of Children’s Social Care
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise a child becoming Looked After.
Post title: Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection / Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise an application for an Emergency Protection Order.
Post title: Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection / Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked after child outside England and Wales.
Post title: Director of Children’s Social Care
Contact details: kerry.birtles@cheshireeast.gov.uk
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 Children's Provider Services
Contact details: samantha.derbyshire@cheshireeast.gov.uk
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: Head of Children’s Provider Services / Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers / Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection
Contact details:
samantha.derbyshire@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Fostering Panel members
Post title: Head of Children's Provider Services
Contact details: samantha.derbyshire@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The manager who can approve a Pathway Plan.
Post title: Resource Service Manager
Contact details: Steve.Nevitt@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The manager who can authorise the marriage/civil partnership of a Looked After child.
Post title: Executive Director of Children's Services
Contact details: deborah.woodcock@cheshireeast.gov.uk
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: Executive Director of Children's Services
Contact details: deborah.woodcock@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The manager who can authorise a passport application for a Looked After child.
Post title: Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers / Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise an application for a Placement Order.
Post title: Director of Children's Social Care
Contact details: kerry.birtles@cheshireeast.gov.uk
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’s Provider Services / Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers
Contact details:
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: Executive Director of Children’s Services
Contact details: deborah.woodcock@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The manager who can authorise Special Guardianship as the permanence plan for a Looked After child.
Post title: Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers / Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise the level of special guardianship support to be provided, including financial support to special guardians.
Post title: Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers / Head of Children’s Provider Services
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise the change of placement affecting a Looked After child in Key Stage 4.
Post title: Head of Service: Inclusion
Contact details: Laura.Rogerson@cheshireeast.gov.uk
The person who can authorise Fostering for Adoption.
Post title: Director of Children’s Social Care / Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers
Contact details:
The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority.
Post title: Head of Children’s Provider Services / Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers / Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection
Contact details:
samantha.derbyshire@cheshireeast.gov.uk
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: Head of Service: Cared for Children & Care Leavers / Head of Service: Children in Need & Child Protection
Contact details:
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 of Children’s Social Care
Contact details: kerry.birtles@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Last Updated: July 9, 2024
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