It is a necessary objective of CQC to be completely impartial to deliver certification services which provide the market place with confidence, while maintaining the professionalism and credibility of the audit and certification process. CQC therefore ensure that impartiality is upheld as an integral part of the Audit process. As CQC is a self-financed independent organization, this also ensures that we retain our impartiality.

CQC ’ reputation for excellence is maintained by an internal independent Impartiality Committee, who have been appointed by the directors to monitor all aspects of our business activity. The CQC Impartiality Committee all have many years’ of direct experience in the individual sectors which they represent; thus enabling them to guarantee a wealth of knowledge and integrity for CQC .

CQC shall not accept applications for certification of organizations who report directly to a person or group who also have any type of operational responsibility for CQC.

CQC shall not enter into any partnerships to provide consultancy. However, CQC may provide auditor training when contracted by another body to do so, but such contractual agreement may not be advertised in any manner without prior review and approval of the CQC Office.

The following seven controls shall be implemented and complied with by all audit and certification staff to ensure that this Impartiality Policy is maintained throughout the audit process.

1. Auditors/Technical Experts are prohibited from participating in the Audit of any organization where they have provided consultancy or training (except where this has been professionally registered auditor training), or of any organization where they have any financial or commercial interest, for a minimum period of two years prior to the date of the organization’s Certification Application.
2. Auditors/Technical Experts shall not disclose or discuss any detail, before or after an Audit, to any member of staff other than their direct Management or other members of the team, as required by their Secrecy and Non-Disclosure agreement signed on commencement of employment.
3. Subcontracted Auditors/Technical Experts shall sign a Subcontractor Agreement and a Secrecy and Non-Disclosure Agreement and shall be included on the Office Potential Conflict Listing.
4. CQC ’ directly employed Management and Staff are prohibited from engaging in consultancy activities, which involve the active design, generation or implementation of a Management System.
5. CQC ’ directly employed Management and Staff are required to declare any financial interests or business activities on commencement of, and during, the period of employment. The details of which shall be recorded on the Office Potential Conflict Listing.
6. CQC ’ Management, Staff and Subcontracted Auditors/Technical Experts shall neither suggest nor imply that certification would be simpler, easier or less expensive if specific consultancy or training services were used. CQC ’ Management, Staff and Subcontracted Auditors/Technical Experts shall not offer consultancy or training services to CQC ’ clients to whom they have been assigned an audit; either during or after the audit has been completed.
7. Expertise Certification Process Quality Policy