51Professional mentor

51 Professional mentor (1) The Commissioner may, in writing, appoint a person to be a professional mentor to an investigator.

Health and Community Services Complaints Act 1998 29 (2) An investigator may discuss any issue arising out of the performance of his or her functions with, and may seek advice from, his or her professional mentor. (3) A person is not to be appointed a professional mentor unless he or she has, in the opinion of the Commissioner, relevant professional expertise. (4) If a complaint is made against a registered provider, the relevant Board may request the Commissioner to appoint a professional mentor to the investigator appointed to carry out the investigation of the complaint. (5) On receiving a request under subsection (4), the Commissioner must consult with the Board and, unless there are compelling reasons for not doing so, must appoint a professional mentor. (6) If a person is appointed a professional mentor to an investigator and the person is a member of a relevant Board, the person must not take part in any proceedings of the Board in respect of a registered provider who is the subject of an investigation by the investigator. (7) A person must not act as a professional mentor to an investigator to whom a matter is referred unless the person has made a statement in the prescribed form.