Health and Social Care (Reform) Act (Northern Ireland) 2009

Functions of RBSO

15.—(1) RBSO shall on behalf of the Department provide, or secure the provision of, support services to other health and social care bodies in accordance with directions under subsection (4).

(2) Support services are services which are required to be carried out by, or on behalf of, any of those health and social care bodies and include—

(a) administrative support, advice and assistance;

(b) financial services;

(c) human resource, personnel and corporate services;

(d) training;

(e) the management and maintenance of buildings, equipment and land;

(f) information technology and information management;

(g) the procurement of goods and services;

(h) legal, medical, scientific or other professional services;

(i) contractual compliance, internal audit and fraud prevention.

(3) It is the duty of RBSO to put in place arrangements for providing, or securing the provision, of support services under this section which—

(a) secure that those services are provided in the most economic, efficient and effective way; and

(b) are approved by the Department.

(4) After consultation with each of the health and social care bodies, the Department may direct that such support services as the Department may direct shall be provided by RBSO to such health and social care bodies as the Department may direct.

(5) RBSO may charge for support services provided by it.

(6) The Department may by order amend subsection (2).