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—— ASSURANCE · POLICY 05

Approval, Suspension and Withdrawal Policy

How COFNII grants, maintains, restricts, suspends and withdraws public approval or certification status.

DOCUMENT CONTROL

STATUS

Committee approved 4 July 2026

VERSION

Approved 0.1

PREPARED

4 July 2026

APPLIES TO

Website users, applicants, members, trainers, event attendees, contacts and complainants

COMMITTEE APPROVED - 4TH JULY 2026

This document forms part of the approved COFNII governance framework. 

Section 1
Section 2

1. Approval is evidence-led

Approval is separate from membership and cannot be bought. It is granted only for the organisation, individual, discipline, service and period shown on the COFNII register after the applicable evidence and assessment requirements are met.

2. Initial and continuing requirements

Verified identity and authority to apply.

  • Relevant vocational qualifications, technical certifications and current industry experience.

  • Teaching, assessor or quality-assurance qualifications where the role requires them.

  • Insurance, equipment, calibration, policies, facilities and quality controls appropriate to the scope claimed.

  • Successful completion of any COFNII examination, interview, practical observation, audit or evidence review required for the category.

  • Ongoing CPD, standardisation, truthful public information and cooperation with proportionate surveillance or renewal checks.

3. Conditions and restrictions

COFNII may grant approval with a restricted scope, time limit, supervision condition, corrective-action plan or enhanced review where that response is proportionate and does not create an unacceptable risk.

Section 3

On this page

Questions or adjustments?

 

Contact COFNII about this policy or request an accessible format.

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info@cofnii.org

4. Grounds for suspension or withdrawal

  • False, altered, misleading or unverifiable evidence.

  • Work, training or assessment outside the approved scope or without required competent supervision.

  • Serious or repeated quality, safety, integrity or Code of Conduct breach.

  • Loss, expiry or suspension of an essential qualification, authorisation, insurance or awarding-body relationship.

  • Failure to complete agreed corrective action, renewal, CPD, audit or fee requirements.

  • Improper use of COFNII badges, membership numbers, directory entries or protected materials.

4. Current cookie table

5. Interim suspension and fair process

An appeal should be submitted within 20 working days of the written decision and identify a material procedural error, relevant new evidence, an unreasonable conclusion or a disproportionate outcome.

 

The appeal will be considered by a person or panel not responsible for the original decision and without a disqualifying conflict. The review may uphold, vary, overturn or remit the decision. COFNII aims to issue the appeal outcome within 20 working days after receiving the complete appeal information.

Section 5

6. External rights

This procedure does not remove legal rights. A person may complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office about personal-information handling, pursue contractual or statutory remedies, or contact an appropriate regulator or authority. Urgent safety, fraud or criminal concerns should be reported to the competent body without waiting for COFNII’s process.

Section 6

UK legal and guidance references

External sources are provided for transparency. The legislation and official guidance in force at the relevant time should always be checked.

POLICY OWNER

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COFNII Board and Committee

JURISDICTION

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England and Wales

NEXT REVIEW

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Annually or after material change

Continue through the policy framework.

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