The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) (Independent Guardian) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025

Made: 13th May 2025

Coming into operation-: 9th June 2025

The Department of Health[^f00001] makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 21(5) and 27(1) of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015[^f00002].

Citation and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) (Independent Guardian) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 and shall come into operation on 9th June 2025.

Amendment to the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) (Independent Guardian) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

2

• (1) The Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) (Independent Guardian) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016[^f00003] shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

• (2) In regulation 2 (Interpretation), at the appropriate place insert—

• “period of assessed employment”, means a period of employment for one year required by the Northern Ireland Social Care Council[^f00004].

• (3) In regulation 3 (Training and qualifications) for sub-paragraph (b) substitute—

(b) have completed their period of assessed employment.

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Health on 13th May 2025.

Martina Moore — A senior officer of the — Department of Health

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations amend the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) (Independent Guardian) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 to remove the requirement for five years’ post qualifying social work experience in order for a person to be eligible for appointment as an independent guardian. The regulations introduce a new eligibility requirement that the person must have completed their post-qualification period of assessed employment.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: Formerly the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; see 2016 c. 5 (N.I.), section 1(5) and section 21(11) of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 [2015 c. 2]

[^f00002]: 2015 c. 2 (N.I.)

[^f00003]: S.R. 2016 No. 410

[^f00004]: Established in accordance with section 1 of the Health and Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 [2001 c.3].

Editorial notes

[^key-b5549b09929dbf15000257115336ef03]: Reg. 1 in operation at 9.6.2025, see reg. 1

[^key-fe8a7fbf89278f105104730978df4de3]: Reg. 2 in operation at 9.6.2025, see reg. 1