Adoption and Children Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Supplemental

Information concerning adoption

13.—(1) Each adoption agency must give the Department any statistical or other general information which the Department requires about—

(a) the agency’s performance of all or any of its functions relating to adoption;

(b) the children and other persons in relation to whom it has exercised those functions.

(2) The information required to be given under this section must be given at the times, and in the form, directed by the Department.

(3) The Department may publish abstracts of the information given under this section.

Inspection of premises, etc.

14.—(1) The Department may arrange for any premises in which—

(a) a child is living with a person with whom the child has been placed by an adoption agency; or

(b) a child in respect of whom a notice of intention to adopt has been given under section 41 is, or will be, living,

to be inspected.

(2) The Department may require an adoption agency—

(a) to give the Department any information; or

(b) to allow the Department to inspect any records (in whatever form they are held),

relating to the discharge of any of the adoption agency’s functions in relation to adoption which the Department specifies.

(3) An inspection under this section must be conducted by a person authorised by the Department.

(4) A person inspecting any premises under subsection (1) may—

(a) visit the child there; and

(b) make any examination into the state of the premises and the treatment of the child there which the person considers necessary.

(5) A person authorised to inspect any records under this section may at any reasonable time have access to, and inspect and check the operation of, any computer (and associated apparatus) which is being or has been used in connection with the records in question.

(6) A person authorised to inspect any premises or records under this section may—

(a) enter the premises for that purpose at any reasonable time; and

(b) require any person to give the person so authorised any reasonable assistance which the person so authorised may require.

(7) A person exercising a power under this section must, if required to do so, produce a duly authenticated document showing the person’s authority.

(8) Any person who intentionally obstructs another in the exercise of a power under this section is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.