16OSocial Services Regulator may investigate reportable allegation

16O Social Services Regulator may investigate reportable allegation

S. 16O(1) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.22(a)).

(1) The Social Services Regulator, of its own motion, may conduct an investigation concerning a reportable allegation against an employee of an entity if the Social Services Regulator—

(a) receives information about the reportable allegation from any person; and

(b) believes on reasonable grounds that reportable conduct may have been committed by an employee of the entity; and

S. 16O(1)(c) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.22(a)).

(c) considers that it is in the public interest that the Social Services Regulator investigate the reportable allegation.

S. 16O(2) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.22(b)).

(2) The Social Services Regulator, of its own motion, may conduct an investigation concerning a reportable allegation against an employee of an entity if the Social Services Regulator is advised by the entity or any other regulator of the employee that the entity or regulator will not or is unable to—

(a) investigate the reportable allegation; or

(b) engage an independent investigator to investigate the reportable allegation.

S. 16O(3) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.22(c)).

(3) The Social Services Regulator, of its own motion or in response to a complaint, may conduct an investigation concerning any inappropriate handling of, or response to, a reportable allegation by an entity or any other regulator if the Social Services Regulator considers that it is in the public interest to do so.

S. 16O(4) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.22(d)(i)).

(4) At the conclusion of an investigation by the Social Services Regulator and after consultation with the relevant regulator, the Social Services Regulator—

(a) must make findings, give reasons for the findings and make recommendations, if any, for action to be taken with respect to the matter investigated; and

S. 16O(4)(b) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.22(d)(i)).

(b) must provide to the entity the findings, reasons and recommendations, if any, of the Social Services Regulator, together with any necessary information relating to the recommendations; and

S. 16O(4)(c) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.22(d)).

(c) may provide to the relevant regulator the recommendations of the Social Services Regulator for action to be taken by the relevant regulator.

S. 16P (Heading) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.23).

S. 16P inserted by No. 4/2017 s. 6, amended by No. 58/2025 s. 55(Sch. 1 item 1.24).