The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (Description of Social Care Workers) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006

Notice is hereby given that in exercise of the powers conferred upon it by sections 3(1)(b) and 57(3) of the Health and Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001(“the 2001 Act”) and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, and having consulted the Northern Ireland Social Care Council the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has made a Statutory Rule entitled The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (Description of Social Care Workers) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006.

The Rule prescribes that this Order specifies as descriptions of social care workers, persons who are members of care staff in a residential care home, nursing home or day care setting; who manage or are members of care staff in a residential family centre; who are engaged in the provision of personal care for any person or who are supplied by a domiciliary care agency to provide personal care in their own homes for persons who by reason of illness, infirmity or disability are unable to provide it for themselves without assistance.

This Order also specifies as descriptions of social care workers persons who are treated as social care workers by regulations made under section 2(3) of the Act. These include persons who are engaged in work for the purposes of the personal social services functions of a Health and Social Services Board or HSS trust (or in the provision of services similar to those provided in the exercise of those functions); who manages or are employed in, an undertaking which consists of or includes supplying, or providing services for the purpose of supplying, persons to provide personal care; or who are employed in connection with the discharge of functions of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety under Article 149 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (NI 2) (inspection of children’s homes etc.).

The descriptions of social care worker specified by this Order do not include persons who are registered with or are members of one or more specified regulatory bodies.

Copies of the Statutory Rule may be purchased at an early date from TSO Bookshop, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland, Castle Buildings, Stormont, BELFAST BT4 3SQ