Before giving a penalty notice to a registered provider the regulator must give the provider a notice (a "pre-penalty warning")—
specifying grounds on which the regulator thinks a penalty could be imposed,
warning the provider that the regulator is considering imposing a penalty,
including any indication that the regulator is able to give of the likely amount of any penalty, and
explaining the effect of sections 231, 234(1), (3) and (6) and 235.
If the regulator gives a pre-penalty warning it must send a copy to—
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
the HCA,
the Greater London Authority (if the pre-penalty warning is given to a registered provider who owns land in Greater London), and
any other persons it thinks appropriate.
For the purposes of subsection (2)(b) the regulator shall consider, in particular, any person who provided information as a result of which the pre-penalty warning is given.
A pre-penalty warning must—
refer to section 125 (voluntary undertaking), and
indicate whether or to what extent the regulator would accept a voluntary undertaking instead of, or in mitigation of, a penalty.
A pre-penalty warning may be combined with notice under one or more of sections 242, 248, 250 and 252.