8.1Schedule 9 10.

8.2We are responsive to the views of members of the public. We will endeavour to resolve all complaints made to us.

8.3Schedule 9 10. of the Act refers to complaints. A person can make a complaint to a public authority if the complainant believes he or she may have been directly affected by an alleged failure of the authority to comply with its approved equality scheme.

8.4If the complaint has not been resolved within a reasonable timescale, the complaint can be brought to the Equality Commission.

8.5A person wishing to make a complaint that we have failed to comply with our approved equality scheme should contact:

Joan Gormley
Head of Operations Northern Ireland
Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation
2nd Floor
Glendinning House
6 Murray Street
Belfast BT1 6DN

Telephone: 028 9033 0706
Textphone: 0300 303 3345

Email: infoni@ofqual.gov.uk
www.ofqual.gov.uk

8.6We will, in the first instance, acknowledge receipt of each complaint within 10 working days.

8.7We will carry out an internal investigation of the complaint and will respond substantively to the complainant within one month of the date of receiving the letter of complaint. Under certain circumstances, if the complexity of the matter requires a longer period, the period for response to the complainant may be extended to two months. In those circumstances, the complainant will be advised of the extended period within one month of making the complaint.

8.8During this process the complainant will be kept fully informed of the progress of the investigation into the complaint and of any outcomes.

8.9In any subsequent investigation by the Equality Commission, we will co-operate fully, providing access in a timely manner to any relevant documentation that the Equality Commission may require.

8.10Similarly, we will co-operate fully with any investigation by the Equality Commission under Schedule 9 11. (1) (b) of the Act.

8.11We will make all efforts to implement promptly and in full any recommendations arising out of any Equality Commission investigation.