These Regulations are made under the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (“the Order”), and apply in relation to nursing agencies in Northern Ireland only. Part II of the Order establishes, in relation to Northern Ireland, the Health and Personal Social Services Regulation and Improvement Authority (“the Regulation and Improvement Authority”) and Part III provides for the registration and inspection of establishments and agencies, including nursing agencies, by the Regulation and Improvement Authority. It also provides powers to make regulations governing the conduct of establishments and agencies.

By regulation 4, each agency must prepare a statement of purpose in relation to the matters set out in Schedule 1 and a service user’s guide to the agency (regulation 5). The agency must be carried on in a manner which is consistent with the statement of purpose.

Regulations 7 to 11 make provision about the fitness of the persons carrying on and managing an agency and require satisfactory information to be obtained in relation to the matters specified in Schedule 2. Where the provider is an organisation, it must nominate a responsible individual in respect of whom this information must be available (regulation 7). Regulation 8 prescribes the circumstances where a manager must be appointed in respect of the agency, and regulation 9 makes provision concerning the fitness of the manager. Regulation 10 imposes general requirements in relation to the proper conduct of the agency, and the need for appropriate training.

Part III makes provision in relation to the conduct of agencies, in particular about the quality of services to be provided by an agency. Regulation 12 makes provision about the fitness of all nurses supplied by an agency. Regulation 13 requires the registered person to notify the Regulation and Improvement Authority of any incident reported to the police where the agency is acting as an employment business. In addition, provision is made as to staffing (regulation 14), the provision of information to service users (regulation 16), disclosure of information (regulation 17), record keeping (regulation 18 and Schedule 4) and complaints (regulation 19). Provision is also made about the suitability of premises (regulation 21) and the financial management of the agency (regulation 22). Regulations 23 to 26 deal with the giving of notices to the Regulation and Improvement Authority.

Part IV deals with miscellaneous matters. In particular, regulation 28 provides for offences. It shall be an offence on the part of the registered person to breach Regulations 4 to 6 and 11 to 24. However, no prosecution may be brought unless the Regulation and Improvement Authority has given notice which sets out in what respect it is alleged he is not complying with a regulation, and what action (if any), and by when, the Regulation and Improvement Authority considers is necessary in order to comply with the regulation.