1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the National Care Standards Commission (Fees and Frequency of Inspections) (Adoption Agencies) Regulations 2003 and shall come into force on 30th April 2003.
(2) These Regulations apply to England only.
2.—(1) In these Regulations—
“the Act” means the Care Standards Act 2000;
“branch” means a branch which is not a small branch;
“existing agency” means an adoption society which is approved under Part I of the Adoption Act 1976(1);
“existing provider” means a person who carries on an existing agency;
“new provider” means a person who carries on a voluntary adoption agency for the first time on or after 30th April 2003(2);
“principal office” means a principal office which is not a small principal office;
“registered provider” means a person who is registered under Part II of the Act as the person carrying on the voluntary adoption agency;
“relevant number of staff” means seven full-time staff or the equivalent but does not include the manager or, as the case may be, branch manager, appointed in accordance with the Voluntary Adoption Agencies and the Adoption Agencies (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2003(3);
“small branch” means a branch where no more than the relevant number of staff are employed at any one time as social workers within the meaning of Part IV of the Act(4);
“small principal office” means a principal office where no more than the relevant number of staff are employed at any one time as social workers within the meaning of Part IV of the Act.
Section 4 of the Act defines a voluntary adoption agency as an adoption society within the meaning of the Adoption Act 1976 which is a voluntary organisation within the meaning of that Act.
S.I. 2003/367; see regulation 6(1).
By virtue of section 55(2)(a) and (4) of the Act, a social worker for the purposes of Part IV of the Act, is a person who engages in social work that is required in connection with any health, education or social services provided by any person.