List of Agency Decision Makers, Designated Managers and Nominated Officers

RELATED CHAPTER

Delegation of Authority to Foster Carers and Residential Workers Procedure

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.

AMENDMENT

In January 2024, these details were updated.

Designated Managers with Specified Area of Responsibility

Designated Managers with Specified Area of Responsibility Post Title and Contact Details

Agency Decision Maker (Adoption)

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

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Agency Decision Maker (Fostering)

The Agency Decision Maker who makes decisions on fostering matters (on the basis of recommendations of the Fostering Panel).

Post title: Head of Fostering - Assessments

Contact details: headoffostering@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Adoption Panel Appointments)

The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Adoption Panel members.

Post title: Head of Regional Adoption Agency for London Borough Bexley, Kent County Council and Medway

Contact details: Amy.Coombs@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Adoption Support)

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 Adoption

Contact details: Amy.Coombs@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Care Plans)

The manager who can authorise the final Care Plan to be taken before the Court within Care Proceedings.

Post title: Assistant director or Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Care Proceedings)

The manager who can authorise the initiating of Care Proceedings.

Post title: Assistant director or Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Change of Name)

The manager who can authorise the change of name of a Looked After Child.

Post title: Assistant director or Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Contact with Parents)

The manager who can authorise the suspension or termination of contact between a Looked After child and his or her parents (subject to the Court's approval after 7 days for children on Emergency Protection Orders, Interim Care Orders or Care Orders).

Post title: Assistant director or Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Death or Serious Injury to a Child)

The senior manager who should be notified in the event of death or serious injury to a child.

Post title: Interim Assistant Director

Contact details:

Safeguarding & QA
Leemya.McKeown@kent.gov.uk

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Decision to Look After)

The manager who can authorise a child becoming Looked After.

Post title: Assistant director or Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Emergency Protection Orders)

The manager who can authorise an application for an Emergency Protection Order.

Post title: Assistant director or Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Emigration)

The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked after child outside England and Wales.

Post title: Assistant director or Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Exemptions and Extensions from Fostering Limit)

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 of Corporate Parenting / Designated decision maker

Contact details:

Caroline.smith@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (External Placements)

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 or Designated Decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Fostering Panel Appointments)

The manager who can authorise appointments to the Central List of Fostering Panel members

Post title: Head of Fostering

Contact details: headoffostering@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Fostering approval suspension)

The manager who can authorise the suspension of fostering approval.

Post title: Head of Fostering

Contact details: headoffostering@kent.gov.uk

This is a decision maker role and must be done through the panel process.

Designated Manager (Recommend Termination of Fostering approval)

The manager who can recommend the termination of fostering approval.

Post title: Head of Fostering

Contact details: headoffostering@kent.gov.uk

This is a decision maker role and must be done through the panel process.

Designated Manager (Termination of Fostering approval)

The manager who can authorise the termination of fostering approval.

Post title: Head of Fostering

Contact details: headoffostering@kent.gov.uk

This is a decision maker role and must be done through the panel process

Designated Manager (Temporary Approval of Connected Persons)

The manager who can authorise the approval of temporary foster carers.

Post title: Assistant Area Director

Contact details:

Caroline.smith@kent.gov.uk

Post title: Head of Fostering

Contact details: headoffostering@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Leaving Care)

The manager who can approve a Pathway Plan.

Post title: Head of Service of the 18 plus care leavers service

Contact details: Nimesh.Patel@kent.gov.uk / Mark.Weinel@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Marriage/Civil Partnership)

The manager who can authorise the marriage/civil partnership of a Looked After child.

Post title: Assistant director / Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Notifications)

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: Service Manager Front Door Service - OLA Placement Officer

Contact details:

Frontdoor@kent.gov.uk
Lesley Gould – Front Door Service
Bryony Khadaroo – Front Door Service

Designated Manager (Passports)

The manager who can authorise a passport application for a Looked After child.

Post title: Assistant director

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Placement Orders)

The manager who can authorise an application for a Placement Order.

Post title: Assistant Area Director

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Private Fostering)

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.

Approve Assessments: Area Integrated Family Service Managers
Impose requirements/prohibitions

Post title: Assistant Director

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Secure Accommodation)

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.

Contact details:

Kevin Kasaven
Kevin.kasaven@kent.gov.uk
Director of Children's Countywide Services

Ingrid Crisan
Ingrid.Crisan@kent.gov.uk
Director of Operational Integrated Children's Services

Designated Manager (Special Guardianship)

The manager who can authorise Special Guardianship as the permanence plan for a Looked After child.

Post title: Assistant Director

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Designated Manager (Special Guardianship Support)

The manager who can authorise the level of special guardianship support to be provided, including financial support to special guardians.

Post title: Assistant Director

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Nominated Officer (Disruption of Education)

The manager who can authorise the change of placement affecting a Looked After child in Key Stage 4.

Post title: Corporate Director, Children, Young People and Education

Contact details: Sarah.hammond@kent.gov.uk

Nominated Officer (Out of Area Placements)

The manager who can authorise the placement of a Looked After child outside the area of the local authority.

Post title: Assistant Director / Designated decision maker

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk

Nominated Officer (Immediate Placement of a Looked After Child with Connected Person)

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

Contact details:

Caroline.smith@kent.gov.uk

Post title: Head of Fostering

Contact details: headoffostering@kent.gov.uk

Nominated Officer (Placement of a Looked After Child subject to Care Order or Interim Care Order with Parents)

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

Contact details:

North Kent
Penny.Ademuyiwa@kent.gov.uk

West Kent
Mark.thorn@kent.gov.uk

East Kent
Stephen.fitzgerald@kent.gov.uk

South Kent
Florah.shiringo@kent.gov.uk

Disabled Children
Sharon.Howard@kent.gov.uk

Adolescent Services
Dan.Bride@kent.gov.uk
Hema.Birdi@kent.gov.uk