The Voluntary Adoption Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

These regulations are made under the Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (the 1987 Order) and the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (the 2003 Order) and apply to voluntary adoption agencies.

Part III of the 2003 Order provides for registration and inspection of establishments and agencies, including voluntary adoption agencies, by the Health and Social Care Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.

Regulations 4 and 5 make provision for the statement of purpose. Each voluntary adoption agency must have a statement of purpose setting out the aims and objectives of the agency. The statement of purpose must be kept under review and revised when necessary. The agency must be carried on in a manner that is consistent with the statement of purpose.

Regulations 6 to 10 make provision about the persons carrying on and managing a voluntary adoption agency, and require a manager to be appointed for the agency (regulation 7). Provision is made for the fitness of the manager in particular by the requirement that satisfactory information be obtained in relation to the matters specified in Schedule 2 (regulation 8). Regulation 6 requires the voluntary organisation that is carrying on the agency to nominate a responsible individual in respect of whom this information must be available. Regulation 9 imposes general requirements in relation to the proper conduct of a voluntary adoption agency, and the need for appropriate training.

Part III of these Regulations makes further provision about the conduct of a voluntary adoption agency, in particular as to the protection of children (regulation 11), complaints (regulations 12 and 13), staffing, record keeping and fitness of premises (regulation 14 to 19).

Part IV of these Regulations deals with the miscellaneous matters. Regulation 20 provides for the registered provider and the manager to give notice of the events listed in Schedule 4 to the persons mentioned in that Schedule. Regulation 21 imposes requirements relating to a voluntary adoption agency’s financial position. Regulations 22 to 25 provide for the giving of notices in relation to the absence of the manager and changes, appointment of liquidators and transfer of case records to the RQIA. Regulation 26 provides that where these Regulations place a requirement on more than one person, if one of those who is obliged to meet that requirement does so, the other person is not also obliged to meet that requirement.

Regulations 27 and 28 provide for amendments and revocations of the Adoption Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1989.