COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE POLICY 2024
Policy Statement
1. Summary
This procedure outlines the procedures followed by Safety-Zone Ltd in the event that Safety-Zone Ltd should receive a complaint from a customer, either in writing or by telephone, relating to training that has either been completed or is in the process of being delivered by Safety-Zone Ltd or by agents/subcontractors working on the behalf of Safety-Zone Ltd.
2. Terms/Definitions
Complaints Register – Folder (either written or computer-based) in which customer complaints are documented. Full details of the Complaints Register are given in section 3.2 below.
Complaints Manager – Point of contact for resolving and administrating customer complaints. The appointed Complaints Manager for Safety-Zone Ltd is Robin Clark.
3. Initial contact
3.1. Recorded in Complaints Register
Immediately following the receipt of a complaint from a customer, the complaint is logged in the Complaints Register. The Complaints Register is a folder set up for the express purposes of keeping an accurate and chronological record of any complaints received, correspondence/communications that have taken place between Safety-Zone Ltd and the client, any actions taken by Safety-Zone Ltd to resolve the issues concerned and the outcome of said actions.
The Complaints Register incorporates the following elements:
- Date-indexing – All complaints are filed in ‘date of receipt’ order – that is, in order of the date that the complaint was received, not the date that the training was initiated/completed.
- Full complainant name, telephone number and address of the person concerned. In the event that the complaint is being made on behalf of someone else, the full name, address and contact details of the complainant are recorded as well as the relevant details of the customer in question.
- Brief summary of training carried out
- Brief summary of nature of complaint
- Contract reference number
The above information is included on a ‘customer complaints cover sheet’ contained within the complaints register. Each separate complaint utilises a separate cover sheet. In addition, all relevant correspondence is filed alongside the complaint’s cover sheet including copies of correspondence issued by Ness Safety Training Ltd.
3.2 First response
Once a complaint has been received and logged within the complaints register, it is the responsibility of the Complaints Manager (Robin Clark) to contact the complainant within 48 hours to discuss the issues raised. This initial contact will be attempted by telephone, however, should it not be possible to speak directly to the complainant via this method then a message will be left (should a messaging service be available) and a letter of acknowledgement despatched to the complainant’s address.
If the complainant is reached at this point of initial contact, the Complaints Manager will first apologise for the issues raised and will attempt to discuss the particulars of the complaint, including any potential resolution of the problems. It is hoped that most complaints can be resolved at this point of initial contact – the complaints is discussed, and actions are proposed by the Complaints Manager intended to resolve the complaints to the customer’s satisfaction. These actions are also verified in writing to the complainant.
All contact is documented and dated within the Complaints Register.
4. Resolution
As previously stated, it is hoped that the initial communication and subsequent resolution action outlined in agreement with the complainant is sufficient to resolve the complaint.
In the 24 hours following any necessary rectification, the Complaints Manager will contact the complainant to discuss the resolution and ensure that the complaint has been resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction. If the complainant agrees that the issues raised have been resolved, then the complaint is closed. The Complaints Manager will despatch a letter to the complainant to verify these discussions. The Complaints Register is subsequently updated to reflect this.
If the complainant is still not satisfied then it will be necessary to escalate the complaint.
5. Escalation 1 – further resolution
In the event that the proposed resolution does not satisfy the complainant, then it will be necessary for the Complaints Manager to escalate the complaint. The complainant will be invited to submit their grievances in writing so they can be addressed in more detail.
Once the Complaints Manager has fully reviewed all aspects of the complaint, contact will once again be made with the complainant to discuss ways of moving forward with the complaint. The Complaints Manager will propose further actions to resolve the complaint which the Complaints Manager feels is appropriate and in keeping with the extent of the complaint and any culpability on the part of Ness Safety Training Ltd.
If the actions proposed by the Complaints Manager are agreed by the complainant this will once again be confirmed in writing and documented in the Complaints Register. If the complainant is not happy with the actions proposed by the Complaints.
Manager and/or the Complaints Manager feels that the complainant is being unreasonable in their demands, then it will be necessary for the complaint to be escalated to an external party.
6. Escalation 2
A complaint is to be referred to an external party in the following circumstances:
If after initial contact and resolution, the complainant is unwilling to agree to any further actions by Ness Safety Training Ltd.
The Complaints Manager of Safety-Zone Ltd deems the demands of the complainant to be unfair or the responsibility of the issues raised not being the responsibility of Safety-Zone Ltd despite the insistence of the complainant If, after unsuccessful initial resolution, a second attempt at resolving the issues is also unsuccessful.
In such situations, the complainant is advised to contact the external party directly. Safety-Zone Ltd agrees to cooperate fully with the external party to assist in resolving the complaint to the satisfaction of all parties concerned, including the provision of copies of our Complaints Register of the complaint in question should the external party request/require this.
Robin Clark – Managing Director Date: 1st Jan 2024