PART 2Accountable officers
Accountable officers to assess and investigate concerns16
1
An accountable officer shall establish and operate, or ensure that his designated body establishes and operates, appropriate arrangements for—
a
assessing concerns expressed about incidents that involved, or may have involved, the improper management or use of controlled drugs by a person who is, as regards his designated body, a relevant individual; and
b
investigating such concerns.
2
If, after an assessment of a concern expressed, the accountable officer decides that an investigation is needed, the accountable officer may—
a
carry out that investigation himself;
b
make a written request for another officer or employee of his designated body to carry out the investigation; or
c
if appropriate, and subject to paragraph (5)—
i
make a written request for an officer or employee (including, in the case of a designated body, an accountable officer) from any of the responsible bodies listed in paragraph (3) to carry out the investigation, or
ii
make a written request for a number of officers or employees from any of the responsible bodies listed in paragraph (3) to form a joint investigation team to carry out the investigation.
3
The following are responsible bodies for the purposes of section 18 of the 2006 Act and this regulation—
a
a designated body;
b
the Department;
c
the Counter Fraud Unit of RBSO;
d
the Police Service of Northern Ireland;
e
RQIA;
f
a regulatory body.
4
An accountable officer may use his powers under paragraph (2)(c) to request an investigation (or a joint investigation with other responsible bodies) by the Counter Fraud Unit of RBSO into any possible fraud in relation to health care.
5
The accountable officer shall keep, or ensure that his designated body keeps, a record of—
a
any request made to an accountable officer from another designated body, or to another responsible body, under paragraph (2)(c) to investigate a concern that involved, or may have involved, the improper management or use of controlled drugs; and
b
any assessment or investigation of a concern that involved, or may have involved, improper management or use of controlled drugs by a relevant individual that the accountable officer or his designated body carried out; and
c
any notification given to another responsible body or accountable officer under regulation 25(4).