Quality Assurance for Public Consultations – Strengthening Governance, Compliance, and Public Trust
Expert, independent reviews that help organisations meet legal duties, manage risk, and deliver credible consultation outcomes
Introduction to Consultation Quality Assurance
Consultation Quality Assurance helps organisations manage legal, political, and reputational risk. Public consultations can be delayed, discredited, or legally challenged if the process is flawed. Independent assurance provides the scrutiny needed to show your consultation is fair, lawful, and defensible.
Our expert-led reviews test governance, materials, and engagement plans against recognised standards,
including the Gunning Principles and statutory duties. By identifying risks early and providing clear recommendations, we give boards, scrutiny bodies, and stakeholders the confidence that decisions will stand up to challenge.
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Explore our Consultation Quality Assurance Services
Certificate of Consultation Readiness
A review of all pre-consultation activities and processes that provides you with assurance you have met tCI’s standards to proceed to consultation.
Early Assurance
Early Assurance helps organisations test options, governance, and engagement plans before consultation begins—reducing legal risk and strengthening confidence in complex or politically sensitive decisions.
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Why tCI is the Partner for Public Consultation Assurance
Independent and trusted – recognised for setting standards in public consultation assurance.
Specialist expertise – grounded in consultation law, governance, and best practice.
Proven track record – supporting NHS bodies, councils, and infrastructure promoters on high-risk decisions.
Clear, defensible outcomes – assurance that stands up to legal, political, and public scrutiny.
How Our Assurance Process Strengthens Consultations
tCI’s Quality Assurance is a structured, step-by-step process designed to strengthen every stage of a consultation. From early scoping and governance checks to document reviews, mid-point testing, and final sign-off, our independent approach gives organisations confidence that their consultation is lawful, defensible, and ready for scrutiny.
By mapping reviews to the Gunning Principles, statutory duties, and the Consultation Charter, we provide consistent assurance throughout the lifecycle of a consultation. This process not only reduces legal and reputational risk but also builds public trust and supports better decision-making.
Previous Clients
Previous Testimonials
Taken from past Institute projects, the feedback highlights experience that now underpins tCI.
The Institute has provided us with such sound advice. Their recommendations have been tremendously helpful.
The Consultation Institute have been incredibly helpful in supporting us to ascertain current consultation skills within the organisation, identifying areas that can be improved.
The confidence of having the backing of tCI has been so helpful for us to give feedback to scrutiny from councillors and our own committees about the process.
tCI’s assistance has been invaluable. It has complemented our expertise and means means we can address any high-profile, controversial, consultations with confidence.
This session on public consultation, delivered by The Consultation Institute is a dream session for a qualitative researcher like myself.
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