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).