Impartiality

Purpose and scope

Impartiality

Certiqual protects impartiality by controlling roles, assignments, commercial pressure and decision authority throughout every quality process.

01

Structural separation

Advisory may explain requirements or support an organisation’s own analysis. It cannot predict findings or guarantee recognition. Anyone who designed or implemented work for a scope cannot audit or decide that same scope.

02

Assignment and decision controls

Competence and conflict checks are completed before an assignment. The authorised decision-maker reviews the scope, evidence sufficiency, findings and corrective actions without having led the audit or delivered advisory work to the applicant.

03

Escalation and review

Threats to impartiality are recorded, evaluated and removed or reduced to an acceptable level. Where independence cannot be protected, the assignment or service is declined, stopped or reassigned.

• No outcome is sold, promised or implied before an independent decision.
• Commercial targets and fees do not form part of assessment findings or decision criteria.
• Recusal, reassignment and the reasons for them are retained in the audit trail.
• Concerns about impartiality may be raised through the complaints process.

Where this policy affects a public accreditation or Certi Mark, the live register reflects the current status, restrictions and material public history without disclosing protected evidence or personal data.