National Council of Social Service (Inquiry Proceedings) (Amendment) Regulations 2022

No. S 298

National Council of Social Service Act 1992

National Council of Social Service
(Inquiry Proceedings) (Amendment)
Regulations 2022

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 37 of the National Council of Social Service Act 1992, the National Council of Social Service, with the approval of the Minister for Social and Family Development, makes the following Regulations:

Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations are the National Council of Social Service (Inquiry Proceedings) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 and come into operation on 5 April 2022.

Amendment of regulation 4

2. Regulation 4(1) of the National Council of Social Service (Inquiry Proceedings) Regulations (Rg 2) (called in these Regulations the principal Regulations) is amended —

(a)

by deleting the word “or” at the end of sub‑paragraph (a); and

(b)

by deleting sub‑paragraph (b) and substituting the following sub‑paragraphs:

“(b)	if the complaint or information concerns one of the matters under regulation 3(b) to (f) — refer the complaint or information received to an Inquiry Committee to inquire into the complaint or information on behalf of the Board; or
(c)	if the complaint or information concerns one of the matters under regulation 3(a) — refer the complaint or information received to the Chief Executive Officer to inquire into the complaint or information.”.

Amendment of regulation 6

3. Regulation 6(3) of the principal Regulations is amended by inserting, immediately after the words “the Committee”, the words “, and such meeting may be convened, held or conducted, whether wholly or partly, by electronic means”.

Amendment of regulation 7

4. Regulation 7 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by deleting the words “the Board or an Inquiry Committee” in paragraph (1) and substituting the words “the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or an Inquiry Committee”;

(b)

by deleting the words “the Board or the Committee” wherever they appear in paragraphs (1), (4) and (5) and substituting in each case the words “the Board, Chief Executive Officer or Committee”;

(c)

by deleting the words “the Board or the Inquiry Committee” in paragraphs (2), (3), (4) and (5) and substituting in each case the words “the Board, Chief Executive Officer or Inquiry Committee”;

(d)

by inserting, immediately after the words “paragraph (1), the Board” in paragraphs (2) and (3), the words “or the Chief Executive Officer”;

(e)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (5), the following paragraph:

“(6) The Board, Chief Executive Officer or Inquiry Committee may, after considering any explanation given by the Council member in regulation 9, suspend the membership of the Council member until the determination of the Board or Chief Executive Officer under regulation 11 or 12.”; and

(f)

by deleting the words “Board and Inquiry Committee” in the regulation heading and substituting the words “Board, Chief Executive Officer and Inquiry Committee”.

Amendment of regulation 9

5. Regulation 9 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)	by deleting the words “Board or the Inquiry Committee” in paragraphs (1) and (2) and substituting in each case the words “Board, Chief Executive Officer or Inquiry Committee”;
(b)	by deleting the words “shall post or deliver” in paragraph (1) and substituting the words “must by way of post, delivery or electronic communication, send”; and
(c)	by deleting the words “Board or the Committee” wherever they appear in paragraph (1)(a) and (b)(i) and (ii) and substituting in each case the words “Board, Chief Executive Officer or Committee”.

Amendment of regulation 10

6. Regulation 10 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by deleting the words “Board or the Inquiry Committee” and substituting the words “Board, Chief Executive Officer or Inquiry Committee”; and

(b)

by renumbering the regulation as paragraph (1) of that regulation, and by inserting immediately thereafter the following paragraph:

“(2) The Board may share the report mentioned in paragraph (1), including any of its findings or contents, with the relevant authorities as the Board thinks necessary.”.

Amendment of regulation 11

7. Regulation 11 of the principal Regulations is amended —

(a)

by deleting the word “him” in paragraph (1)(c)(i) and substituting the words “the Council member”;

(b)

by deleting the words “2 years” in paragraph (1)(c)(ii) and substituting the words “3 years”; and

(c)

by inserting, immediately after paragraph (2), the following paragraph:

“(3) The Board must inform the Council member in writing of its decision in paragraph (1) and the reasons for the decision.”.

New regulations 12, 13 and 14

8. The principal Regulations are amended by inserting, immediately after regulation 11, the following regulations:

“Determination by Chief Executive Officer

12.—(1) Upon completion of the Chief Executive Officer’s inquiry, the Chief Executive Officer may —

(a)

if satisfied that there is no sufficient cause for disciplining the Council member concerned —

(i)	dismiss the matter; or
(ii)	advise the Council member concerned, orally or in writing, on the steps to be taken to improve or regularise its practice or conduct; or

(b)

if satisfied that there is sufficient cause for disciplining the Council member concerned —

(i)	censure the Council member, orally or in writing, warning the Council member against further improper conduct;
(ii)	suspend the membership of the Council member for a period not exceeding 3 years, subject to such conditions as the Chief Executive Officer sees fit; or
(iii)	terminate the membership of the Council member.

(2) The Chief Executive Officer must record every decision made by him or her under paragraph (1) and his or her reasons for making the decision.

(3) The Chief Executive Officer must inform the Council member in writing of the decision in paragraph (1) and the reasons for the decision.

Appeal to Board

13.—(1) Any Council member may, within 21 days of the notice of the decision of the Chief Executive Officer mentioned in regulation 12(1), appeal against the decision to the Board.

(2) Any appeal under paragraph (1) must —

(a)	be in writing; and
(b)	state the issues for the appeal, the reasons against the decision and the reasons supporting the appeal.

(3) Where the Chief Executive Officer decides to suspend or terminate the membership of the Council member and the Council member appeals the decision under paragraph (1), the decision that is appealed against is stayed pending the determination of the appeal by the Board.

(4) On appeal under paragraph (1) to the Board, the Board may determine the case in such manner as it thinks fit and may —

(a)	confirm, set aside or modify the decision to which the appeal relates; or
(b)	give such directions in such manner as the Board thinks fit, including a direction to the Chief Executive Officer to review the decision to which the appeal relates.

(5) The decision of the Board in paragraph (4) is final and must be communicated to the Council member in writing.

Mode of communication

14. In these Regulations, where the Board or Chief Executive Officer is required to inform the Council member in writing, the Board or Chief Executive Officer may so do by post, delivery or electronic communication.”.

Made on 29 March 2022.

ANITA FAM

President,
National Council of Social Service,
Singapore.

[BD/15/11/21; AG/LEGIS/SL/195A/2020/3 Vol. 1]

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