Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983

Inspection of homes

20 (1) Any person authorised in that behalf by the Secretary of State may at all times enter and inspect any premises which are used, or which that person has reasonable cause to believe to be used, for the purposes of a residential care home.

(2) Any person authorised in that behalf by a registration authority may at all times enter and inspect any premises in the area of the authority which are used, or which that person has reasonable cause to believe to be used, for those purposes.

(3) The powers of inspection conferred by sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) above shall include power to inspect any records required to be kept in accordance with regulations under this Schedule.

(4) The Secretary of State may by regulations require that residential care homes shall be inspected on such occasions or at such intervals as the regulations may prescribe.

(5) A person who proposes to exercise any power of entry or inspection conferred by this paragraph shall if so required produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to exercise the power.

(6) Any person who obstructs the exercise of any such power shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of an amount not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.