Statutory Powers of Protection Specialist Centres

The holder of this card is appointed as a Protector and/or Approved Welfare Officer, and may exercise powers under the following legislation for the purpose of protecting a child or young person (CYP), vulnerable adult (VA) and/or survivor of family violence (FV):

a. Children and Young Persons Act 1993 (CYPA)
b. Vulnerable Adults Act 2018 (VAA)
c. Women's Charter 1961 (WC)

Protectors

Legislation	Section	Power
Children and Young Persons Act 1993 (CYPA) https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CYPA1993	3(3)	Authorised to perform the duties or exercise the powers of a Protector under i. Section 9 of the CYPA to obtain and communicate information; and ii. Section 10 of the CYPA to order a child or young person to be produced for assessment or treatment, etc., save that the holder of the card shall not have the power to remove the child or young person and commit the child or young person to a place of temporary care and protection or to the care of a fit person until the child or young person can be brought before a Youth Court to be dealt with under section 54 of the Act.
	3(4)	Appointed as an Approved Welfare Officer, to carry out any investigation, assessment, supervision, consultation or evaluation in relation to any child or young person or the parent, guardian or family members thereof for the purpose of determining the welfare and state of development of such child or young person or for any other purpose under the CYPA.

Approved Welfare Officers

Legislation

Section

Power

Children and Young Persons Act 1993 (CYPA)

https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CYPA1993

3(4)

To carry out any investigation, assessment, supervision, consultation or evaluation in relation to any child or young person or the parent, guardian or family members thereof for the purpose of determining the welfare and state of development of such child or young person or for any other purpose under the CYPA

Vulnerable Adults Act 2018 (VAA)

https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/VAA2018

3(3)

Appointed as Approved Welfare Officer to exercise the following powers of an Approved Welfare Officer under the VAA:

i. apply to the court for orders under sections 14 (1) (e), (f), (g), (h) and 15 of the VAA in relation to a vulnerable adult if:

a. the vulnerable adult consents to the application(s); or

b. the vulnerable adult is assessed by a mental capacity assessor to lack the mental capacity to consent to the application(s);

ii. supervise a vulnerable adult, if the court makes an order placing the vulnerable adult under the supervision of an Approved Welfare Officer under section 14(1)(d) of the VAA.

iii. apply to the court for the variation, suspension or revocation of an order under section 14 (1)(d) of the Act (whether or not the Approved Welfare Officer had earlier applied for that order) if:

a. the vulnerable adult consents to the application(s); or

b. the vulnerable adult is assessed by a mental capacity assessor to lack the mental capacity to consent to the application(s);

iv. apply to the court for the variation, suspension or revocation of an order under sections 14 (1) (e), (f), (g), (h) and 15 of the Act if an Approved Welfare Officer had earlier applied under section 12 of the Act for that order and if:

a. the vulnerable adult consents to the application(s); or

b. the vulnerable adult is assessed by a mental capacity assessor to lack the mental capacity to consent to the application(s)

Women's Charter 1961 (WC)

https://sso.agc.gov.sg/act/wc1961

62(2)(b)

Appointed as an Approved Welfare Officer to exercise one or more specified functions of a protector under Part 7 of the WC, in cases where an individual has experienced, or is experiencing, or at risk of family violence

Provision in the WC	Specified function of a protector	Conditions on AWO’s exercise of power (if any)
Section 59, read with Section 59A(2)(a) and (2)(b)	To assess at-risk persons if the AWO is satisfied that it is in the person’s best interest for the assessment to be done	AWO may not assess the following at-risk persons who have mental capacity to consent to the assessment and do not consent to the assessment: · 18 years of age and above; · Below 18 years of age and is married or was previously married.
Section 59B	To enter premises for assessment	AWO may not exercise the powers under subsections (3)* and (4). Not allowed to break open any door, window, lock, fastener or any other thing to gain entry into the premises.
Section 59C	To obtain information and examine records
Section 59E	To enable a relevant person to disclose information to the AWO, and to enable the AWO to disclose information to a relevant person
Sections 60(1), 60B(3), 60E(3), 60F(3), 61(4), 61A(3)	To apply for a protection order or a domestic exclusion order or a stay away order or a no contact order or a counselling order or a mandatory treatment order or an expedited order (as the case may be)	AWO may not apply for a protection order etc. in relation to the following persons who have mental capacity to consent to the application and do not consent to the application: · 18 years of age and above; · Below 18 years of age and is married or was previously married.
Section 60(4)	To substitute an applicant for a protection order	AWO may not substitute an applicant for a protection order in relation to the following applicants who have mental capacity to consent to the application and do not consent: · 18 years of age and above; · Below 18 years of age and is married or was previously married.
Sections 60A(4), 60B(7), 60E(6), 61(7), 61A(8)	To apply for variation, suspension or revocation of a protection order or a domestic exclusion order or a stay away order or a no contact order or a counselling order or an expedited order (as the case may be)	AWO may not apply for a variation, suspension or revocation of a protection order etc. in relation to the following persons who have mental capacity to consent to the application and do not consent: · 18 years of age and above; · Below 18 years of age and is married or was previously married.