1. This Order may be cited as the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 (Restriction on the Authorisation of Council Officers) Order 2008 and comes into force on 29th October 2008.
2.—(1) In this Order–
“equivalent registration” means registration in a register prescribed under section 52(2)(b) (use of title “social worker” etc.) of the 2001 Act and which appears to the Scottish Ministers to be equivalent to a registration in the SSSC register as a social worker;
“SSSC register” means the register maintained by the SSSC under section 44(1) (register of social workers and of other social service workers) of the 2001 Act;
“the 2001 Act” means the Regulation of Care (Scotland) Act 2001(1); and
“the SSSC” means the Scottish Social Services Council(2).
(2) A reference in this Order to a section is, unless otherwise stated, to a section of the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.
3.—(1) A council(3) shall not authorise a person to perform the functions of a council officer under sections 7 to 10 (investigative functions) unless that person meets the requirements set out in paragraph (2).
(2) Those requirements are–
(a)the person–
(i)is registered in the part of the SSSC register maintained in respect of social workers or is the subject of an equivalent registration;
(ii)is registered in the part of the SSSC register maintained in respect of social service workers;
(iii)is registered as an occupational therapist in the register maintained under article 5(1) (establishment and maintenance of register) of the Health Professions Order 2001(4); or
(iv)is a nurse; and
(b)the person has at least 12 months' post qualifying experience of identifying, assessing and managing adults at risk.
4. A council shall not authorise a person to perform the functions of a council officer under sections 11 (assessment orders), 14 (removal orders), 16 (right to move adult at risk) or 18 (protection of moved person’s property) unless that person meets the requirements of article 3(2)(a)(i), (iii) or (iv) and (b).
5. A council shall withdraw the authority of a person to perform the functions of a council officer specified in article 3 or 4 if that person no longer meets the requirements relevant to performing those functions.
S ROBISON
Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers
St Andrew’s House,
Edinburgh
10th September 2008