Confidence, inside and out.
Quality Assurance helps make sure your plans are clear, your materials are fit for purpose, and your approach meets legal and good-practice standards.
It gives internal teams confidence that things are on track, and provides external reassurance, to boards, scrutiny committees, and the public, that your consultation has been properly handled.
Reduces risk
Helps you spot and fix problems before they lead to challenge or delay.
Supports legal compliance
Checks your consultation against its legal duties, so it can stand up to scrutiny.
Strengthens alignment
Gives teams and decision-makers confidence that the process is sound.
Public endorsement
Shows stakeholders and the public that your consultation meets recognised standards.
Scaled to the risk and the moment
The Quality Assurance Process
Two certified products, run in sequence, supporting your consultation from early planning through to the final report. Independent checkpoints at each critical milestone, scaled to your risk.
QA Lite
A simplified review focusing on scope, documentation and compliance, for smaller or lower-risk proposals.
View service →Early Assurance
A short, expert-led snapshot to test your plans and timelines before they are final.
View service →Charter Workshop
A half-day workshop introducing your team to the Consultation Charter and its Seven Key Principles.
View service →Certified at two moments that matter.
The QA process produces two distinct certificates, one before the consultation opens, and one before the decision is taken. Each can be awarded at Good Practice or Best Practice.
Certificate of Consultation Readiness
Issued just before your consultation launches. It confirms, on independent review, that the consultation is planned, documented, and governed well enough to open, and to withstand early scrutiny. Built on the pre-launch stages of the process, and awarded at Good or Best Practice.
The readiness certificate → Before the decisionCertificate of Assurance
Issued before the final decision. It augments the process past the consultation itself, confirming it was delivered and reported as intended, so the decision-maker acts on assured evidence. Also awarded at Good or Best Practice.
The assurance certificate →Adviser and Assessor, working as one team.
A clear summary after every intervention, and a formal confirmation letter recording Good Practice or Best Practice under the Consultation Charter.
Works directly with your team, offering guidance, asking the right questions, and helping you prepare for each review.
Provides independent oversight to verify standards are met, and confirms when a formal endorsement can be given, based on evidence, not assumptions.
The Consultation Institute has provided us with such sound advice. Their recommendations have been tremendously helpful.
Assurance that stands up to scrutiny.
Tell us about your consultation and where the risks lie, and we will scope the right level of assurance, from a light-touch review to the full two-product programme.