This Order amends the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”) to allow the Ombudsman to consider the merits of certain social work decisions taken in the exercise of professional judgment in the course of an investigation under section 2 of the 2002 Act.

Section 7(1) of the 2002 Act generally precludes the Ombudsman from questioning the merits of discretionary decisions when carrying out investigations. New section 7(2C) of the 2002 Act, inserted by article 3 of this Order, creates an exception to this rule. The exception applies to decisions taken in pursuance of functions conferred by the enactments referred to in new section 7(2E) of the 2002 Act, to the extent that those decisions are taken in consequence of the exercise of professional judgment. The functions in question may be conferred on the local authority itself or on particular office holders appointed by the local authority. The latter group would cover, in particular, chief social work officers, mental health officers and council officers acting under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 (asp 10).

Article 4 amends schedule 5 to the 2002 Act. Schedule 5 sets out the bodies with whom, and the matters relating to which, the Ombudsman is permitted under section 20 of the 2002 Act to disclose certain information. The amendment permits the Ombudsman to disclose to the Scottish Social Services Council information which appears to the Ombudsman to relate to the Council’s professional regulatory functions. It also permits the Ombudsman to disclose to Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (“the Care Inspectorate”) information which appears to the Ombudsman to relate to the Care Inspectorate’s inspection and registration functions.

Article 5 amends section 56 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010. The effect of this amendment is to authorise a Care Inspectorate inspector to disclose confidential information obtained in the course of an inspection to the Ombudsman where the inspector considers this necessary to assist the Ombudsman in connection with its investigatory functions.

Article 6 repeals section 5B of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and revokes the Social Work (Representations Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1990 (“the 1990 Order”). This repeal and revocation are subject to saving provision such that any representations (including complaints) made under the 1990 Order before 1st April 2017 are unaffected by the repeal and revocation.