Section 280 – Appointment of approved social workers
Section 280 requires each HSC trust to ensure that it appoints a sufficient number of approved social workers to carry out the functions assigned to them under the Act. The section also provides that no one can be appointed an approved social worker unless the HSC trust has approved him or her as having appropriate competence in dealing with people who lack capacity. In appointing approved social workers the HSC trust must also have regard to directions issued by the Department.