Singapore legislation
Regulation 31
Regulation 31
Use of force on residents
Subregulation 1
For the purposes of section 37(3)(a) of the Act, the use of force is permitted in the following types of licensable SRHs:
an adult disability home;
a home for children and young persons;
a sheltered home;
a welfare home.
Subregulation 2
For the purposes of section 37(3)(d) of the Act, force may only be used on a resident if —
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.
Subregulation 3
If an authorised person uses force on a resident under paragraph (2)(a), the authorised person must inform the person‑in‑charge as soon as practicable of the use of force.
Subregulation 4
The licensee and person‑in‑charge of a licensable SRH must —
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.
Subregulation 5
Every approved personnel for the licensable SRH must comply with the processes mentioned in paragraph (4).