Social Residential Homes (General) Regulations 2026

include the following particulars:

the name and particulars of the applicant;

the contact particulars of the applicant;

the name and address of the licensable SRH;

the type of licensable SRH the applicant intends to operate;

the name of each key appointment holder of the applicant;

the name of the person‑in‑charge of the licensable SRH;

the name of each individual whom the applicant intends to deploy to carry out a prescribed duty mentioned in regulation 14; and

include the application for approval under section 20 of the Act in relation to each individual mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a)(v), (vi) and (vii).

the reasons for the variation;

whether the safety, security or wellbeing of the residents of the licensable SRH would be compromised by the variation.

wholly and permanently stop operating the licensable SRH to which the licensee’s licence relates, except upon the lapsing of the licence; or

for any reason surrender the licence.

inform every resident or his or her authorised representative that the licensee intends to stop operating the licensable SRH and the intended date of cessation;

subject to the consent of the resident or authorised representative or any order or direction given under any written law (as the case may be), arrange for the resident to be transferred to the care of another licensee who operates the same type of licensable SRH or another suitable care setting;

where the resident is transferred to the care of another licensee before the licensee stops operating the licensable SRH — transfer the resident’s care records to the other licensee;

where the resident is not transferred to the care of another licensee before the licensee stops operating the licensable SRH — transfer the resident’s care records to the resident or the resident’s authorised representative.

whether the person has been investigated for, charged with, or convicted of (whether before, on or after 1 July 2026) any offence —

under the Act or any Act mentioned in sub‑paragraph (b) or (d);

specified in the First Schedule to the Registration of Criminals Act 1949;

specified in the Second Schedule to the Act;

whether in Singapore or elsewhere, involving fraud or dishonesty;

whether in Singapore or elsewhere, the conviction for which involved a finding that the person had acted dishonestly;

under the Adoption of Children Act 2022; or

involving any of the following:

violence or serious physical hurt or harm;

sexual or child abuse;

drugs, psychoactive substances or intoxicating substances;

making false statements to or obstructing public authorities;

breach of national security;

any act that is likely to cause offence to any racial or religious group in Singapore;

cruelty to animals;

harassment;

arms and weapons;

organised crimes, money laundering, robbery or human or drug trafficking;

any evidence of the cancellation or suspension (whether before, on or after 1 July 2026) of the person’s registration, certificate or enrolment under any of the following provisions:

section 16, 17, 18 or 19 of the Allied Health Professions Act 2011;

section 14, 14A, 14B, 14C or 21 of the Dental Registration Act 1999;

section 18, 25, 36B, 36C, 36D, 36E or 36G of the Legal Profession Act 1966;

section 20, 21, 22, 22A, 23 or 24 of the Medical Registration Act 1997;

section 14, 15, 16 or 17 of the Nurses and Midwives Act 1999;

any evidence of the cancellation, modification or suspension (whether before, on or after 1 July 2026) of any approval granted to the person under the Act or the Early Childhood Development Centres Act 2017;

any evidence of the revocation, shortening, modification or suspension (whether before, on or after 1 July 2026) of any licence granted to the person under the Act or any of the following Acts:

the Children and Young Persons Act 1993;

the Early Childhood Development Centres Act 2017;

the Foreign Employee Dormitories Act 2015;

the repealed Homes for the Aged Act 1988;

the Healthcare Services Act 2020;

the repealed Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act 1980;

whether the person has committed or been found guilty of professional misconduct.

the declaration is false in a material particular;

the individual is being investigated for, charged with, or convicted of any offence; or

the individual is no longer suitable to act as an approved individual.

the application is pending; and

where approval has been granted, the individual is an approved individual in relation to the licensee or a licensable SRH operated by the licensee.

an approved individual (A) ceases to be appointed as a key appointment holder for a licensee, including by reason of the Director‑General cancelling or suspending A’s approval under section 33 or 35 of the Act; and

the cessation results in the number of key appointment holders appointed by the licensee falling below the minimum number mentioned in paragraph (1),the licensee must submit an application for the approval of another individual as a key appointment holder within 14 days after the date of cessation of A’s appointment.

provide financial governance, including budget planning and ensuring the appropriate use of the licensee’s funds that are allocated to the operation of the licensable SRH;

advise the licensee in guiding the person‑in‑charge of the licensable SRH and all approved personnel on the operation of the licensable SRH;

provide guidance in formulating policies that govern the licensable SRH’s operations and the management of residents of the licensable SRH, and devise systems to implement those policies;

ensure that the person‑in‑charge implements the policies governing the licensable SRH’s operations and the management of residents of the licensable SRH, and regularly reviews those policies and the systems that implement those policies;

advise the licensee in monitoring the performance of the licensable SRH and quality of care provided to residents;

ensure that any weakness or inadequacy related to the care of residents is promptly identified and remedied;

immediately notify the licensee of any matter that the key appointment holder knows or has reason to suspect may affect compliance with any licence condition applicable to the licensable SRH; and

where the key appointment holder knows or has reason to believe that there is a contravention or failure to comply with any provision of the Act, a licence condition or a code of practice applicable to the licensee — ensure that the contravention or failure to comply is rectified as soon as is practicable.

any duty that involves direct physical contact with any resident of a licensable SRH, including the provision of care to a resident;

any duty that is carried out within the premises of a licensable SRH or otherwise involves physical access to a licensable SRH.

the provisions of the Act and these Regulations, the licence conditions and all directions and codes of practice given or issued under the Act that are applicable to the licensee; and

the provisions of any other written law regulating or relating to the operation of the licensable SRH in a safe and proper manner, that are applicable to the licensee.

the licensee must ensure that each key appointment holder and person‑in‑charge appointed by the licensee has the necessary authority and is adequately empowered to carry out his or her duties under the Act and these Regulations;

the licensee must not obstruct any key appointment holder or person‑in‑charge from carrying out his or her duties in compliance with the Act and these Regulations; and

the licensee must ensure that there is close supervision, adequate training and regular competency assessments of each approved individual, to enable the approved individual to perform the approved individual’s work effectively and safely.

establish and implement processes to ensure that the premises of the licensable SRH are safe, sanitary and appropriately equipped; and

ensure that every resident in, staff member of and visitor to the licensable SRH complies with the processes.

establish and implement processes for the licensable SRH to ensure the prevention, management, control and containment of the spread of any infection that is, or is suspected to be, connected with the operation of the licensable SRH; and

ensure that every resident in, staff member of or visitor to the licensable SRH complies with the processes.

that every medicinal product or health product that is prepared, dispensed and administered by any individual deployed by the licensee is accurately prepared, dispensed and administered in accordance with a prescription that is issued by —

a dentist;

a medical practitioner; or

a collaborative prescribing practitioner in accordance with a collaborative practice agreement; and

the keeping and maintenance of proper and accurate records of each medicinal product or health product prepared, dispensed or administered under sub‑paragraph (a).

implement the processes mentioned in paragraph (1); and

ensure that every staff member of the licensable SRH complies with the processes.

the resident had undergone a medical examination by a medical practitioner within 6 months before the date of the resident’s admission to the licensable SRH; and

the licensee has a copy of the resident’s medical report in relation to that medical examination.

establish and implement processes to ensure that any resident mentioned in paragraph (1) receives the necessary medical assistance and treatment in relation to the injury, symptom or condition; and

ensure that every staff member of the licensable SRH complies with the processes.

for the appropriate management of residents’ behaviour and the use of discipline;

that ensure that disciplinary measures are imposed fairly on residents; and

that ensure that disciplinary measures are not imposed except by an approved personnel and with the approval of the person‑in‑charge.

depriving a resident of any meal or other basic need;

depriving a resident access to any activity or thing that is basic to ensuring or promoting the resident’s wellbeing, whether physical, social or emotional;

subjecting a resident to corporal punishment or any form of physical violence;

requiring a resident to pay any pecuniary penalty;

subjecting a resident to a harsh, humiliating, belittling or degrading response of any kind, including a verbal, emotional or physical response.

must comply with the processes mentioned in paragraph (1); and

must not impose any of the measures mentioned in paragraph (2).

record the following:

details of the disciplinary measure that was imposed;

the reasons for imposing the disciplinary measure; and

as soon as practicable after the imposition of the disciplinary measure, inform the resident’s authorised representative or next‑of‑kin of the fact.

a resident is not separated from other residents of the licensable SRH except where —

it is necessary to ensure the safety of any individual in the licensable SRH, including the resident; and

the resident is of 12 years of age or older;

the period of separation for a separated resident —

is kept to the shortest period necessary to ensure the safety of any individual in the licensable SRH, including the separated resident; and

is appropriate for the separated resident’s age and developmental needs;

except where the resident is at imminent risk of harming any individual, the resident is separated from other residents of the licensable SRH only with the prior approval of the person‑in‑charge;

the room in which the separated resident is kept —

does not contain anything that may enable the resident to harm himself or herself, or cause the resident to suffer any harm;

has ventilation and lighting;

where the resident is to be kept in the room overnight, has a bed or bedding; and

has sufficient space for the resident to lie down;

the separated resident has access to sanitary facilities; and

the separated resident is monitored during the period of separation and has means to communicate with an approved individual in the licensable SRH at any time.

keep a record of the duration of and reasons for the separation; and

as soon as practicable after the resident is separated, inform the resident’s authorised representative or next‑of‑kin of the fact.

every resident is protected from abuse or neglect by any other individual (including another resident or an approved individual) at all times within the licensable SRH; and

any approved personnel who knows or has reason to believe that a resident has been subject to abuse or neglect by any other individual reports this fact to the Director‑General and licensee as soon as is practicable.

the processes mentioned in paragraph (1)(a); and

the processes mentioned in paragraph (1)(b).

a resident is not searched by any approved individual, except for the following purposes:

to detect whether the resident possesses any item prohibited by the licensee;

to detect whether the resident has sustained an injury, if an approved individual reasonably suspects that the resident has sustained an injury;

a search of a resident that requires the resident to remove any article of clothing is conducted —

only with the person‑in‑charge’s prior approval; and

without any direct physical contact with the resident’s body; and

a search of a resident must be made by an approved individual of the same sex as the resident.

ensure that before an approved individual searches a resident, the approved individual explains the reason for the search to the resident; and

keep records of the details of the search, including the date, time, reason for the search, names of every approved individual who conducted the search or witnessed the search, and results of the search.

an adult disability home;

a home for children and young persons;

a sheltered home;

a welfare home.

the resident is at imminent risk of harming any individual, including the resident; or

where the following conditions are satisfied:

all reasonable and less restrictive measures to achieve a purpose mentioned in section 37(4) of the Act have been attempted but are unsuccessful, and the use of force is the last resort;

the person‑in‑charge of the licensable SRH gives prior approval for the use of force on the resident.

establish and implement policies and processes to ensure that —

the use of force to achieve a purpose mentioned in section 37(4) of the Act is a last resort;

the following records are kept:

the nature or description of the force used;

the reasons for and duration of the use of force;

the approved personnel involved in the use of force;

the actions taken before and after the use of force to support the resident; and

the resident’s authorised representative or next‑of‑kin is informed as soon as practicable of the use of force on the resident; and

review every instance where force is used on a resident to implement measures or interventions to minimise the need to use force on the resident in the future.

the resident is at imminent risk of harming any individual, including the resident; or

where the following conditions are satisfied:

all reasonable and less restrictive measures to achieve a purpose mentioned in section 37(4) of the Act have been attempted but are unsuccessful, and the use of mechanical restraints is the last resort;

the person‑in‑charge of the licensable SRH gives prior approval for the use of mechanical restraints.

establish and implement policies and processes to ensure that —

the use of mechanical restraints to achieve a purpose mentioned in section 37(4) of the Act is a last resort;

mechanical restraints are used only for as long as they are necessary to achieve a purpose mentioned in section 37(4) of the Act;

the following records are kept:

the reasons for and duration of the use of mechanical restraints;

the approved personnel involved in the use of mechanical restraints;

the actions taken before and after the use of mechanical restraints to support the resident; and

the resident’s authorised representative or next‑of‑kin is informed as soon as practicable of the use of mechanical restraints on the resident; and

review every instance where mechanical restraints are used on a resident to implement measures or interventions to minimise the need to use mechanical restraints on the resident in the future.

any cloth‑based hand, limb, or body vest restraint;

any cushioned safety belt.