Part I Introductory
Registration authorities
I15 Registration authorities.
For the purposes of this Act—
a
the registration authority in relation to England is
F2i
the CHAI, in the case of independent hospitals, independent clinics and independent medical agencies;
ii
the CSCI, in the case of children’s homes, care homes, residential family centres, domiciliary care agencies, nurses agencies, fostering agencies, voluntary adoption agencies and adoption support agencies;
;
b
the registration authority in relation to Wales is the National Assembly for Wales (referred to in this Act as “the Assembly”).
F12
This section is subject to section 36A.
F65AGeneral duties of Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection
1
The Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (referred to in this Act as “the CHAI”) shall have the general duty of keeping the Secretary of State informed about—
a
the provision in England of independent health services; and
b
in particular, the availability and quality of the services.
2
The CHAI shall have the general duty of encouraging improvement in the quality of independent health services provided in England.
3
The CHAI shall make information about independent health services provided in England available to the public.
4
When asked to do so by the Secretary of State, the CHAI shall give him advice or information on such matters relating to the provision in England of independent health services as may be specified in his request.
5
The CHAI may at any time give advice to the Secretary of State on—
a
any changes which the CHAI thinks should be made, for the purpose of securing improvement in the quality of independent health services provided in England, in the standards set out in statements under section 23;
b
any other matter connected with the provision in England of such services.
6
In the exercise of its functions under this Act the CHAI must have particular regard to the need to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children.
7
The Secretary of State may by regulations confer additional functions on the CHAI in relation to the provision in England of independent health services.
8
In this section “independent health services” means services of the kind provided by persons for whom the CHAI is the registration authority.
F75BGeneral duties of Commission for Social Care Inspection
1
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (referred to in this Act as “the CSCI”) shall have the general duty of keeping the Secretary of State informed about—
a
the provision in England of registered social care services; and
b
in particular, the availability and quality of the services.
2
The CSCI shall have the general duty of encouraging improvement in the quality of registered social care services provided in England.
3
The CSCI shall make information about registered social care services provided in England available to the public.
4
When asked to do so by the Secretary of State, the CSCI shall give him advice or information on such matters relating to the provision in England of registered social care services as may be specified in his request.
5
The CSCI may at any time give advice to the Secretary of State on—
a
any changes which the CSCI thinks should be made, for the purpose of securing improvement in the quality of registered social care services provided in England, in the standards set out in statements under section 23;
b
any other matter connected with the provision in England of registered social care services.
6
In the exercise of its functions under this Act the CSCI must have particular regard to the need to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children.
7
The Secretary of State may by regulations confer additional functions on the CSCI in relation to the provision in England of registered social care services.
8
In this section, “registered social care services” means services of the kind provided by persons for whom the CSCI is the registration authority.
6 National Care Standards Commission.
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7 General duties of the Commission.
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I28 General functions of the Assembly.
1
The Assembly shall have the general duty of encouraging improvement in the quality of Part II services provided in Wales.
2
The Assembly shall make information about Part II services provided in Wales available to the public.
3
In relation to Part II services provided in Wales, the Assembly shall have any additional function specified in regulations made by the Assembly; but the regulations may only specify a function corresponding to a function which, by virtue of F3section 5A or 5B is exercisable by the CHAI or the CSCI in relation to Part II services provided in England.
4
The Assembly may charge a reasonable fee determined by it in connection with the exercise of any power conferred on it by or under this Act.
5
The Assembly may provide training for the purpose of assisting persons to attain standards set out in any statements published by it under section 23.
F56
The Assembly must have particular regard to the need to safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of children in the exercise of—
a
its functions exercisable by virtue of section 5(b) and subsections (1) to (3) of this section; and
b
any other functions exercisable by the Assembly corresponding to functions exercisable by the CSCI in relation to England.
F46
In this section, “Part II services” means services of the kind provided by persons registered under Part II, other than the provision of—
a
medical or psychiatric treatment, or
b
listed services (as defined in section 2).
9 Co-operative working.
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I310 Inquiries.
1
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2
The appropriate Minister may cause an inquiry to be held into any matter connected with a service provided in or by an establishment or agency.
3
Before an inquiry is begun, the person causing the inquiry to be held may direct that it shall be held in private.
4
Where no direction has been given, the person holding the inquiry may if he thinks fit hold it, or any part of it, in private.
5
Subsections (2) to (5) of section 250 of the M1Local Government Act 1972 (powers in relation to local inquiries) shall apply in relation to an inquiry under this section as they apply in relation to a local inquiry under that section; and references in those provisions as so applied to a Minister shall be taken to include references to the Assembly.
6
Subsections (3) and (4) apply in relation to an inquiry under section 35 of the M2Government of Wales Act 1998 into any matter relevant to the exercise of—
a
any functions exercisable by the Assembly by virtue of section 5(b) or 8(3); or
b
any other functions exercisable by the Assembly corresponding to functions exercisable F11by the CHAI or the CSCI under this Act in relation to England,
as they apply in relation to an inquiry under this section.
7
The report of the person who held the inquiry shall, unless the Minister who caused the inquiry to be held considers that there are exceptional circumstances which make it inappropriate to publish it, be published in a manner which that Minister considers appropriate.