181Court may order examination to be carried out in hospital

1. If, at any stage of the hearing of any proceedings under Part 2,—

2. 2 health practitioners have certified or given evidence that a psychiatric assessment of any child of or over the age of 10 years, or of any young person to whom the proceedings relate, should be obtained, and it appears to the court that it would not be practicable for such assessment to be carried out outside a hospital; or
3. 2 psychiatric reports (whether obtained pursuant to section 178(1) or otherwise) recommending detention of any such child or young person in a hospital for further observation are available to the court,—
the court may, if it considers it expedient, make an order for the detention and examination of that child or young person in a hospital for such period, not exceeding 5 days, as the court thinks fit.

4. Where an order is made under subsection (1), a Family Court Judge may, on application made at any time before the expiry of the period specified in the order, if the Judge is satisfied that it is necessary to detain the child or young person to whom the order relates in a hospital for longer than that period for the purpose of completing the assessment or observation of that child or young person pursuant to that order, extend the period for which that child or young person may be detained in that hospital for such period, not exceeding 14 days, as the Judge thinks fit.

5. The examination required by an order made under subsection (1) shall be carried out by a health practitioner holding a specialist psychiatric appointment or holding vocational registration in the speciality of psychological medicine or psychiatry.

6. An order made under subsection (1) in respect of any child or young person is sufficient authority—

7. for the detention of the child or young person by the chief executive or any constable for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the order:
8. for the transfer of the child or young person from a residence to a hospital:
9. for the detention of the child or young person and examination in a hospital:
10. for the return to any residence in which the child or young person was detained at the time of transfer to a hospital.

11. The power to detain a child or young person may be exercised by a social worker or any other person authorised under a delegation by the chief executive to exercise that power (see section 7C).