Governance
Governance and impartiality
An accreditation is useful only if the decision behind it is fair. This page sets out how IUCB keeps its decisions impartial and how they are reached.
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Safeguards
Assessment and decision are separate
The person who assesses an application does not take the decision on it.
Conflicts are declared
Staff and assessors declare any past or present relationship with an applicant, and take no part in that application.
No consultancy
IUCB does not offer consultancy to the organisations it accredits or certifies, so it never assesses its own advice.
Outside advice
An advisory board of practitioners advises on the schemes and the standards they use.
How a decision is reached
Application
The applicant submits the form; IUCB checks that it is complete and asks for the evidence.
Assessment
The evidence is assessed against the scheme rules and the relevant standard.
Decision
A decision is taken on the assessment record by someone who did not carry it out.
Certificate
If approved, the certificate is issued with a number and a QR code that open its record.
Surveillance and change
Where the scheme requires it, surveillance keeps the certificate valid. It can be suspended or withdrawn if its holder stops meeting the requirements, and its record shows the change.
Complaints, appeals and rules
Any decision can be appealed, and anyone can complain about IUCB or about a body it has accredited. The rules every applicant is assessed against are published.