Section 53 – Inspections
90.Subsection (1) provides that SCSWIS may inspect any social service and the organisation and coordination of any social service. Subsection (2) sets out possible purposes of an inspection of any social service, namely to review and evaluate their effectiveness, to investigate particular aspects of a service, to encourage improvement in the provision of those services and to make any recommendations necessary for their improvement in reports prepared under section 57 and in the case of care services, whether any improvement or condition notice necessary.
91.Subsection (2)(d) makes provisions that an investigation may be undertaken by SCSWIS into any incident, event or cause for concern. This is separate from the provisions for an inquiry to be undertaken which are set out in section 98.
92.Subsection (3) provides that an inspection may be of any social service or combination of such services or of the services provided to a child, adult or grouping of children or adults and may be undertaken in any part of, or the whole of Scotland.
93.Subsection (4) provides that an inspection is to be conducted in accordance with a plan prepared in accordance with section 54 and which is approved by the Scottish Ministers.
94.Subsection (5) allows an inspection to take any form SCSWIS considers appropriate.
95.Subsection (6) provides that SCSWIS may require a person who provides a social service registered under the Act to supply it with any information to enable SCSWIS to discharge its functions. This may include such aspects as self-evaluation returns or other information.
