(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations make provision (Regulation 4) prohibiting social care workers from working in specified positions unless they are registered in a relevant part of the register maintained by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.
The Regulations also impose a requirement on providers (i.e. persons carrying on specified establishments or agencies) (Regulation 5) not to employ persons in any of those specified positions unless they comply with the requirement in Regulation 4 to register. A provider who fails to comply with this requirement without reasonable excuse is guilty of an offence (Regulation 8).
The Regulations also provide a timeframe within which the persons employed in the specified positions must secure registration (Regulations 6 and 7).
Consequential amendments are made to the Children's Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005, the Residential Care Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005, the Nursing Homes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005, the Day Care Setting Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and the Domiciliary Care Agencies Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007.