Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010

[F1 65A Care homes: emergency intervention orders S

(1) The Scottish Ministers may apply to the court for an emergency intervention order in respect of a care home service provided at accommodation specified in the application.

(2) An emergency intervention order is an order which—

(a) authorises the Scottish Ministers to nominate a person to act as a nominated officer,

(b) authorises the nominated officer to—

(i) enter and occupy the accommodation specified in the order (“the accommodation”),

(ii) direct and control the provision of the care home service at the accommodation, and

(iii) do anything that the officer considers necessary to ensure that the care home service is provided to an appropriate standard, and

(c) requires the person who is (or, immediately prior to the granting of an order under section 65, was) registered under this Chapter as the provider of a care home service at the accommodation (“the affected provider”) to comply with any direction given by the officer in relation to the provision of care home services at the accommodation,

for such period of up to 12 months as may be specified in the order.

(3) On an application under subsection (1), the court may make such interim order as it thinks fit.

(4) An order under this section has no effect on the rights or obligations of persons receiving care home services at the accommodation.

(5) The Scottish Ministers may, where satisfied that it is essential do so for a reason relating to coronavirus, to prevent an imminent and serious risk to the life or health of persons at the accommodation, exercise the powers that would be available under an emergency intervention order prior to making an application to the court.

(6) But, where the Scottish Ministers exercise powers under subsection (5), they must make an application under subsection (1) within 24 hours of their exercise of the powers (and may exercise the powers until the application is considered by the court).

(7) The court must make an emergency intervention order if it appears to the court that, unless the order is made, for a reason relating to coronavirus there will be a serious risk to the life, health or wellbeing of persons at the accommodation.

(8) The court may include such incidental provision in an order under this section as the court thinks fit (for example, prohibiting the sale of the accommodation or the disposal of any assets used in the provision of care services at the accommodation).

(9) As soon as practicable after the Scottish Ministers have made an application under subsection (1), they must notify the appropriate authorities.

(10) Where the court makes an order under this section, the Scottish Ministers must as soon as reasonably practicable give a copy of it to—

(a) the affected provider, and

(b) the appropriate authorities.

(11) The court may grant an order under this section in the absence of the affected provider.

(12) An order under this section has effect from—

(a) the time at which it is made, or

(b) such other time as the court considers appropriate.

(13) The court may, on the application of the Scottish Ministers or the affected provider—

(a) vary an emergency intervention order,

(b) extend its duration for a further period of up to 6 months,

(c) revoke it (either immediately or on such date as the court may specify).

(14) The court may, on the application of the Scottish Ministers or the affected provider, vary or recall an interim order granted under subsection (3).

(15) An order made under this section has effect notwithstanding the making of an appeal in relation to the order.

(16) For the purpose of this section—

(a) the appropriate authorities are—

(i) SCSWIS,

(ii) the local authority and the health board within whose area the care home service is provided,

(iii) Healthcare Improvement Scotland,

(b) “coronavirus” has the meaning given by section 1 of the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020,

(c) “court” means the Court of Session or the sheriff,

(d) “Health Board” means a Health Board constituted under section 2(1)(a) of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978,

(e) “nominated officer” means a person appointed by the Scottish Ministers whom they consider suitable to perform the functions conferred under an emergency intervention order.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Ss. 65A, 65B inserted (temp.) (27.5.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020 (asp 10), s. 16(1), sch. 1 para. 17(2) (with s. 9) (which affecting provision expires (1.10.2022) by virtue of Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020 (asp 10), s. 9(1))