Last updated: 01-Mar- 2021
Please note: Association of Simply Treatments (ASTs for short) accepts no liability for any costs of the complainant or the practitioner in any case.
The Audit Committee (AC) will investigate the following types of complaint:-
1. Formal written complaints from a client of our registered member received within 7 days.
2. Allegations of breach of the code of professional conduct and/or code of safe practice from any complaints.
3. Complaints made to The ASTs from other professional body’s members.
4. Consideration of consensual resolution, without a hearing, of a complaint referred to a Panel by the Case Examiners, where appropriate.
Investigation timelines and summary process work flow
Review and Appeal procedure
| Stage | Document Require | timeline |
| Stage 1:The appeal submission | Email ASTs with ground of appealAttach investigation outcomeList details of any investigation carried out by the Audit officer relating to the issueall relevant supporting documents or evidence. | Ask for Review and appeal within 5 working days of receiving our “ investigation outcome” via our website contact us methods |
| Stage 2:ASTs Director and all Chairs of Committees Review | Extra evidence collection from Appellant and ASTs CentreFree | Within 5 working days of receipt of The appeal submission |
| Stage 3:ASTs will direct the appeal to an Independent Decision Maker, who is not an employee of ASTs , a ASTs officer or anyone otherwise connected to it. | If the appellant can show that ASTs did not apply procedures consistently during the original investigation, or that procedures were not followed properly and fairly.There is a fee of £250 apply | Within 5 working days of receipt of ASTs Review decision |
Notice to related parties
If the investigation confirms that this policy was breached, ASTs will send investigation outcome to the related parties including the reporter (if not an anonymous person) and other external agencies as required ,under below conditions and timeline:
- If the parties who related gave up the rights of Review and appeal,notice will be served at the 6th working days of “ investigation outcome” being sent.
- If the parties who related ask for review and ASTs review outcome stay the same with ASTs investigation outcome but do not ask for appeal or do not pay for appealing fees, notice will be served at the 6th working days of “ investigation review decision” being sent.
- If the parties who related ask for and paid for the appeal, notice will still be served at the 6th working days of “ investigation review decision” being sent. But ASTs will state that this case is going to appeal and will up-to-date information if the appellant appeal successfully.
Further actions need to be taken after notice was sent:
- Recording any lessons learnt from the investigation and pass these onto relevant internal colleagues
- Revising this policy to minimise the risk to the integrity of certification in the future
- Improving actions to prevent it from reoccurring
- Inform the parties concerned and the regulatory authorities why certificates invalid ,and any action to be taken for reassessment and/or for the withdrawal of the certificates. UCHCSTA also let the affected Learners know the action we’re taking and that their original certificates are invalid .
Monitoring and Review
This policy and its procedures will be reviewed regularly for improvements as part of our Quality Assurance requirements.