RBSON.I.

The Regional Business Services OrganisationN.I.

14—(1) There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Regional Business Services Organisation.

(2) Schedule 3 applies in relation to RBSO.

[F1 Functions of RBSO: support services]N.I.

15—(1) RBSO shall on behalf of the Department provide, or secure the provision of, support services to [F2 relevant bodies] in accordance with directions under subsection (4).

[F3(1A) Each of the following is a relevant body for the purposes of this section—

(a)any health and social care body (other than RBSO);

(b)the Northern Ireland Social Care Council;

(c)the Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery;

(d)the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board.

(1B) RBSO shall provide to the Department, or on behalf of the Department secure the provision to the Department of, such support services as the Department may after consultation with RBSO direct.]

(2) Support services are services which are required to be carried out by, or on behalf of, [F4any relevant body or the Department,] and include—

(a)administrative support, advice and assistance;

(b)financial services;

(c)human resource, personnel and corporate services;

(d)training;

(e)the management and maintenance of buildings, equipment and land;

(f)information technology and information management;

(g)the procurement of goods and services;

(h)legal, medical, scientific or other professional services;

(i)contractual compliance, internal audit [F5 , and counter-fraud and probity services].

(3) It is the duty of RBSO to put in place arrangements for providing, or securing the provision, of support services under this section which—

(a)secure that those services are provided in the most economic, efficient and effective way; and

(b)are approved by the Department.

(4) After consultation with [F6 RBSO and such relevant bodies as the Department thinks appropriate ], the Department may direct that such support services as the Department may direct shall be provided by RBSO to [F7 such relevant bodies ] as the Department may direct.

(5) RBSO may charge for support services provided by it.

(6) The Department may by order amend subsection (2).

[F8Other functions of RBSON.I.

15A—(1) RBSO shall exercise on behalf of the Department such functions of the Department with respect to the administration of health and social care as the Department may direct.

(2) Where RBSO is directed under this section to exercise any function, it is the duty of RBSO to put in place arrangements for exercising the function which—

(a)secure that the function is exercised in the most economic, efficient and effective way; and

(b)are approved by the Department.]