Malpractice and Maladministration Policy

At Advanced Safety Plus Ltd we take malpractice and maladministration seriously, and take all reasonable steps to prevent occurrences.

This policy is aimed at Learners who participate in our training courses, and our team who are delivering training services and who are involved in suspected or actual malpractice/maladministration.

The purpose of this policy is to set out the steps we will take if we suspect malpractice/maladministration and our responsibilities in dealing with such cases. It is also in place to review our processes in the light of a suspected or actual case of malpractice/maladministration. We will act on any reports of suspected or actual malpractice/maladministration we receive which may affect the integrity or our training courses and quality assurance systems.

Definitions:

Malpractice

Malpractice is any activity or practice which deliberately contravenes regulations and compromises the integrity of qualifications.  For the purposes of this policy it also covers professional misconduct.

Examples of malpractice may include

  • Forgery of evidence
  • Plagiarism of any nature by learners
  • Submission of false information to gain a qualification
  • Discriminatory, bullying or harassing behaviour
  • Unprofessional conduct
  • Behaviour likely to endanger the health and safety of the public
  • Breach of confidentiality of learners or organisation
  • Failure to meet the awarding body or regulator’s requirements
  • Falsifying assessment records

Examples of Centre maladministration may include

  • Inadequate procedures for the induction of staff members
  • Failure to learners and members of staff with the knowledge of their responsibilities through the relevant policies and procedures
  • Failure to review systems, policies and procedures to ensure they remain fit for purpose
  • Inadequate support for learners and members of staff that includes ways of helping learners understand how malpractice can occur and be prevented
  • Failure to follow the Centre’s own procedures relating to malpractice, maladministration and fraud prevention
  • Failure to report a case of malpractice to the relevant awarding body or regulatory body
  • Failure to have in place robust procedures for the review and monitoring of any administrative, assessment or quality process/activity that could result in the falsification of records
  • Persistent mistakes or poor administration resulting in the failure to keep proper learner assessment records
  • Inaccurate recording of learner assessment decisions leading to invalid claims for certification
  • Non-compliance with individual awarding body requirements
  • Failure to retain accurate records of learner assessment decisions for the specified period of time
  • Misuse of any logo, name or brand of any awarding body.

Reporting Procedure

Anybody identifying cases of suspected or actual malpractice/maladministration should report them to the managing Director. He will respond within 3 days and investigate in accordance with the steps below. If an investigation finds evidence of malpractice or maladministration, we will take steps to ensure that the learners’ interests are protected as far as reasonably practicable. This may involve learners being re-assessed

The Investigation Process

The investigation may involve

  • A request for further information
  • Interviews with people involved in the investigation
  • Arranging for a workplace visit
  • Informing the relevant awarding body
  • We will make informed decisions based on the evidence
  • We will protect the identity of the whistleblower where possible
  • We will share information with external parties as necessary

Learner Malpractice Sanctions

Where an investigation confirms that learner malpractice has taken place, we may impose one or more of the following sanctions on the learner. Please note this list is not exhaustive.

  • Disallowing all or part of the learner’s assessment evidence
  • Disallowing all or part of the learner’s external assessment marks
  • Not issuing the learner’s certificate
  • Not accepting any further registrations from the learner
  • Disqualification from the training course

All learners and members of staff have access to this policy.

This policy will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as part of our continual quality assurance procedures, and revised in accordance with changes of legislation, actions from any allegations and in response to customer and Learner feedback.