Section 22 Regulation of establishments or agencies
86.Subsection (1) provides a general power to make regulations imposing any requirements as the appropriate Minister thinks fit. Subsection (2) amplifies this, providing for regulations to be made that will be key to the registration of establishments and agencies. It will be essential that the registration authority can ensure establishments and agencies are carried on or managed by persons who are fit to do so. This subsection allows regulations to be made to ensure that establishments and agencies are suitably managed, staffed and equipped and that premises are fit for their purpose.
87.Subsection (2) (d) provides powers to make regulations regarding the welfare of persons accommodated in establishments or provided with services by them, or who use the services of an independent medical agency or domiciliary care agency. Subsection (2) (e) provides similar powers to make regulations to secure the welfare of children placed by independent fostering agencies.
88.Subsections (3) and (4) provide that regulations may be made prohibiting a person’s appointment as manager of, or employment in, an establishment or agency unless they are on a register of social care workers, maintained under section 56.
89.Subsections (5) and (6) provide that the welfare regulation making powers in 22 (2) (d) and (e) may cover the protection and promotion of health, the control and restraint of adults, and the control and restraint and discipline of children. This will enable regulations to set out what is acceptable behaviour management for adults and children.
90.Subsection (7) gives the appropriate Minister power to make provision as to the conduct of an establishment or agency, including the provision of facilities and services, record keeping, notification of events, arrangements for dealing with complaints and in relation to independent hospitals and clinics, the arrangements to be made to secure that any medical or psychiatric treatment or listed services meet appropriate standards.
91.Subsections (7)(h) and (i). Just as it will be important for the registration authority to be made aware of a change in the person managing a home or branch of an agency, so will it be important to have notice of changes in the ownership or the officers of a company which was registered in respect of a service. Fit person checks of company officers have a cost, and so in order to satisfy itself that the officers of the company taking over are fit persons, the registration authority would need to carry out these checks and be able to charge for this.
92.Subsection (8) concerns regulations made in respect of secure accommodation for children, which may cover both its provision and its use, and facilities for religious instruction in children’s homes.
93.Subsection (9) requires the appropriate Minister to consult such persons as he considers appropriate before making or significantly amending regulations under the powers in this section.
94.Subsection (10) Voluntary adoption agencies are excepted from the regulation-making powers set out in this section as equivalent provision is being made for them through amendments to the Adoption Act 1976 (see Schedule 4, paragraph 5(6)(b)).
