Employment of Staff
17.—(1) The registered person shall operate a disciplinary procedure which, in particular—
(a)provides for the suspension, and the taking of other action short of suspension, in relation to an employee where appropriate in the interests of the safety or welfare of relevant children; and
(b)provides that the failure on the part of an employee to report an incident of abuse, or suspected abuse of a relevant child to an appropriate person is a ground on which disciplinary proceedings may be instituted.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), an appropriate person is the registered person, a person responsible for the exercise of functions of the National Assembly under Part XA of the Act, an officer of the local authority for the area in which the relevant premises are situated, a constable or an officer of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
(3) The registered person shall ensure that all employees who look after relevant children—
(a)receive appropriate training, supervision and appraisal; and
(b)are enabled from time to time to obtain further qualifications appropriate to the work they perform.