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An upajjhāya is the guardian or mentor of a bhikkhu. A person intending to become a bhikku (saddhiviharika) should seek out a "competent" and "able" monk to become his upajjhāya. An upajjhāya must have spent at least 10 years in a monastery. They should have a father-son relationship. Upajjhāya are responsible for teaching the Dhamma and Vinaya and how to wash his robes, and finding a bowl, robe, etc. Upajjhāya should care for sick saddhiviharika, and take care of him if he develops anger towards the dhamma and sangha, or commits sanghadisesa.
If a saddhiviharika becomes disobedient it is the job of the upajjhāya to expel him. Otherwise it is an offense of dukkata. But it is also an offense of dukkata to expel an obedient saddhiviharika, or to fail to welcome back a repentant one.