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+44 1442 833110

Terms & Conditions

 

  • Definitions and Interpretation
  • Law and Jurisdiction
  • Use of this Website
  • Master Soft Furnishers Academy – ONSITE and ONLINE training courses
  • Interior Design & Soft Furnishings Service
  • Company Policies
  • Health & Safety Policy

DEFINITIONS and INTERPRETATION

Master Soft Furnishers is the business name and is referred to in these Terms and Conditions and elsewhere in this website as “Victoria Hammond”, “Master Soft Furnishers Academy”, “Victoria Hammond Interiors”, “Trainer”, “Tutor”, “Assessor”, “our”, “or”, “we”, “us”. You will be referred to as “Customer”, “Client”, “Learner”, “Course attendee” “Student” or “you”, “your”. Training services is referred to as “training course”, “course”.

LAW and JURISDICTION

These terms and conditions, and any dispute in contract or in connection with the use of this website shall be governed by English law. Each of the parties agrees that the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of or in connection with the contract or its subject matter.

(Use of this Website)

 

WEBSITE USE

Material contained in the website and third party platforms may be downloaded, viewed and printed for personal use provided that no trade mark, copyright or other proprietary notices contained in or appearing on such material are removed in whole or in part. This permission to download and print material does not extend to material identified on the website as belonging to third parties, where you must obtain the permission of the relevant owners before doing so.

Material contained in the website and third party platforms may not otherwise be copied, reproduced or redistributed in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Victoria Hammond. In particular, it must not be reproduced or exploited for commercial gain. We may provide such consent or decline to do so in its sole discretion. All other rights are reserved.

WEBSITE LIABILITY

Master Soft Furnishers cannot guarantee that this website will operate in accordance with your expectations or will be error free. We may update this website from time to time and we reserve the right to modify, restrict access to or close this website at any time. We give no express or implied representation or warranty (whether statutory or otherwise) in respect of this website or the website content (including, without limitation, as to their condition, satisfactory quality, performance, fitness for purpose or that it is up to date) and all such representations and warranties are excluded. In particular, no liability to any prospective or intending student or client is assumed unless and until a contract is entered into and then only on terms of such contract.

This website contains links to other websites and to website content on such other websites. These links are provided for convenience only, and do not imply that Master Soft Furnishers monitors or maintains these linked websites. We are not responsible for the operation of, or for website content on, any such other website, or for the operation of, or for website content on, any site through which you may have gained access to our site.

Master Soft Furnishers assumes no responsibility for any loss or damages in respect of this website or any such other website and so disclaims all liability accordingly. Furthermore, we assume no responsibility for any loss or damages that may be caused to any equipment or software owing to any viruses, defects or malfunctions in connection with accessing or using this website, and linked website or our or their website content.

 

our’ 

(Master Soft Furnishers Academy – ONSITE and ONLINE training courses)

 

Master Soft Furnishers agrees to provide training services to the Client (Customer, Consumer) and the Client agrees to engage the services of Master Soft Furnishers. By making deposit or full payment of the appropriate training course fee you agree to the following terms and conditions which constitute the contract (agreement) between Master Soft Furnishers and the Client (Customer, Consumer). These Terms are accepted by the Client when booking via our website at checkout stage by ‘ticking’ the checkbox prior to payment “I have read, understand and accept the Terms and conditions and Privacy policy”. These Terms contain the entire agreement between both parties and prevail over any other terms of business or purchase conditions put forward by the Client.

  1. Obligatory training course attendance times: 9.30 am to 5 pm. A course attendee/student must fully participate in all elements of the training course to be awarded a certificate. The course timings as stated above may overrun slightly or we may finish the programme ahead of time. If we finish ahead of time we are not able to provide further tuition. If a course attendee needs to leave early, for travel purpose for example, they must inform the Trainer prior to training course commencement date. We can not speed up or adjust the course programme according or provide extra tuition to a course attendee ahead off/separately to other course attendees.
  2. All course equipment, machinery, tools and materials are supplied – students are unable to bring their own (equipment, machinery, tools and materials) to a scheduled course. However, if a customer wishes to book private tuition we can be more accommodating and design the tuition according. When students take course materials and training manuals away with them, all intellectual property rights to any such materials are owned by us. We will not be liable to you for any loss or injury suffered by you through use or misuse of equipment, machinery or tools supplied by us unless proven to have been caused by our negligence. 
  3. Students need to have completed Course ONE in order to progress to Course TWO, and Course TWO in order to progress to Course THREE. The professional techniques and methods taught at Master Soft Furnishers Academy are a necessary requirement in order to proceed to the next course. If the Diploma courses are booked, the course ‘Cushion Making’ can be attended at anytime – before or in between or after Course One, Two and Three.
  4. All reservations/bookings are subject to availability with minimum numbers required to run the course.
  5. The appropriate course deposit fee is required to secure your place on the agreed course date. Full payment must be settled in full at least 14 days prior to the course start date. Course deposits are non-refundable.
  6. Force Majeure – We will not be liable for any failure or delay in supplying of goods or services under this Agreement to the extent that we are prevented, hindered or delayed from doing so by any cause beyond our control including an unavoidable incident, the default of sub-contractors or suppliers, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction. Where we claim Force Majeure under this Agreement our obligations may be suspended and we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible, stating the date and extent of suspension and the cause of it and shall use our reasonable endeavours to remedy the cause of suspension. We will notify you as soon as reasonably practical after removal of the cause. No refunds will be issued where courses are cancelled due to Force Majeure.
  7. If unforeseen circumstances or an unavoidable incident arises, or because minimum booking numbers have not been reached, Victoria Hammond reserves the right to alter course dates or cancel a course. We will offer course transferral dates and accommodate your training requirements. We will keep the Agreement open and put provisions in place to fulfil the Agreement with our customer.
  8. Written cancellations received at least 14 days prior to the event (agreed course commencement date) will receive a full refund of the course fee less the course deposit fee and an administration charge of £25. Written cancellations received at least 7 days prior to the event (agreed course commencement date) will receive a 50% refund of the course fee less the course deposit fee and an administration charge of £25. It is a responsibility of the client to ensure we have received the written cancellation. After this time (less than 7 days prior to the agreed course commencement date) no refunds will be given, accept for in special circumstances where we require written evidence. In this circumstance a full or part refund will be issued at the sole discretion of Victoria Hammond. For the avoidance of doubt this also covers VISA applications.
    It is possible to transfer to alternative course scheduled dates subject to availability, however course deposit payments made are non refundable. These terms do not relate/are separate to other training courses booked by the client which are another ‘course title’. If the client has booked our Diploma courses together by making a collective course deposit or full payment, these terms apply to each individual ‘course title’ and not the Diploma booking as an entirety.
    To clarify; it is not possible to transfer a course booking to another course ‘title’ or course ‘type’.
  9. If you/course attendee fails to attend the training course booked without giving prior notice no refund of the course fees or course transferral will be made for any means.
  10. Courses must be attended at Master Soft Furnishers Academy within a 18 month timeframe from the date of confirmation of booking. For example, if the Diploma courses are booked at the same time with a discount applicable, these courses must be attended within a 18 month timeframe. We may approve at our discretion an extension of this 18 month timeframe according to the individual and special circumstances.
  11. Master Soft Furnishers may offer course fee/promotional discounts at their discretion for a particular course/s. This discount/s then does not apply to other scheduled courses running, where the full fee is to be paid.
  12. Victoria Hammond is the author and owner of all course training materials, inclusive of training manuals, our website content and our content published on third party online platforms/social networking sites (unless marked as copyright of any other person). All written content, photographs, illustrations, video and recorded material are copyright of Victoria Hammond and are protected under international copy-right laws with all rights reserved, and must not be copied or reproduced in any form under any circumstances without the express permission of Victoria Hammond.

    Victoria Hammond reserves the right to revise course material/programmes and to make changes from time to time in the content hereof without obligation of Victoria Hammond to notify any person of such revision or changes.

  13. Any video or recorded material in any form taken of Victoria Hammond, Course Tutors, training material, or other employees/sub-contractors of Master Soft Furnishers during training courses or otherwise in connection with the services offered by Master Soft Furnishers must not be reproduced, copied or distributed in any form or on any medium, including social networking sites, under any circumstances without the express written permission of Victoria Hammond. We permit photographs to be taken for personal use only.
  14. Victoria Hammond reserves the right to photograph and record/video students and their work and to use the images/recordings in association with Course Marketing and Social Media. If an individual does not wish to be associated with this they must express/inform us at the time of the event; we will comply with their wishes.
  15. All course attendees agree to familiarise themselves with and to follow all health and safety procedures and requirements in order to safeguard themselves and others around them and to follow all instructions posted in the workrooms or given by the Course Tutors.
  16. Victoria Hammond/Tutors/sub-contractors reserve the right to remove/ask an individual to leave the training venue and business premises for unreasonable behaviour and/or disruption to the class environment, tutors, course attendees, other people and animals on site. In this circumstance we will not refund a course fee if a person does not finish the course booked and part attended. If the individual has other courses booked to attend at Master Soft Furnishers Academy, it is at the sole discretion of Victoria Hammond whether this individual can return to site.
  17. Learners/course attendees must have a basic command of  English (verbal and written) in order to attend training courses at Master Soft Furnishers Academy. We can not provide extra/special tuition to a particular person in a class environment. Learners with limited command of English are advised to contact us to discuss what provisions can be put in place.
  18. When you contact Master Soft Furnishers you give permission under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1988 for Bury Farm Collective to hold and process information about you.
  19. Master Soft Furnishers keeps your personal information securely and abides by the Data Protection Act 1988.  We do not pass on an individual’s details unless required by law. Master Soft Furnishers will not sell, rent, trade or give away any student’s personal information or email lists to third parties without first obtaining that user’s consent.
  20. Master Soft Furnishers may send you emails and newsletters to notify you about new services on offer, updates and features on the website.
  21. We shall not be liable under, or in connection with, the Contract (agreement) of any collateral contract for:
    – loss of income
    – loss of accommodation or travel costs
    – loss of business profits or contracts
    – business interruption
    – loss of the use of money or antipicated savings
    – loss of information
    – loss of opportunity, goodwill or reputation
    – loss of, damage to or corruption of data, or
    – any indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind howsoever arising and whether caused by tort (including negligence), breach of contract or otherwise
    – except for matter caused by negligence or wilful default (or that of our employees or sub-contractors), we shall not be liable to you and/or the course attendee for any loss, harm or damage caused.

In addition to clause 1 to 21 where relevant for ONLINE course material:

22. Victoria Hammond is the author and owner of the online course material inclusive of video tutorials. All written content, photographs, videos, designs and illustrations are protected under international copy-right laws, with all rights reserved. For this reason we are not able to provide the course material in PDF downloadable format.  The course material must not be reproduced, downloaded or shared with another third party/parties. The course material is to be solely for the use of the person that ordered and purchased it.

The content of online course material is subject to change without notice. Victoria Hammond reserves the right to revise the content and to make changes from time to time without obligation to notify any person of such revisions and changes.

Victoria Hammond reserves the right to use a photographs, videos, testimonials and reviews, and designs carried out for training course purpose for promotional literature and on-line platforms. These photographs, videos, testimonials and reviews, and designs remain our copyright.

23. Payment for online course material is non-refundable. 

24. If the online material is in draft mode when you make payment, we will keep you updated on a provisional launch due date but we can not guarantee an exact launch date.

25. Course material products (Course Packs) – if an item is damaged in delivery please inform us immediately and send evidence of the damage.

26. Course material products (Course Packs) – if an item that is part of the course pack is part of a third party/supplier stock delay, we are unable to send the ‘Course Pack’ until stock is available. We shall inform you of the status of stock delay and delivery date expectation. We are not responsible for third party stock delays. 

26. Whilst the ONLINE course material may be the same course ‘title’ and the written content as our ONSITE courses, they are a different course ‘type’ – one is face to face training and the other online video tutorials.

27. Master Soft Furnishers may offer course fee/promotional discounts at their discretion which can be redeemed on Master Soft Furnishers website. The discounts are only applicable to be redeemed in the promotional period time. 

 

(Interior Design & Soft Furnishings Service & Supply)

 

Supply of fabrics, wallpaper, trimmings and soft furnishing products

– We manage all administration for an order and liaise with the third party supplier that we hold a trade account with, on our customer’s behalf. Under no circumstances must our customer contact the third party supplier direct to enquire about order status, price or delivery or falsely claim that they are the account holder or mislead the supplier – this is unethical behaviour and potentially jeopardises our business relationship with the third party supplier. Likewise, the third party supplier is not permitted to liaise with a non account holder. If we discover a customer has behaved unethically, we will immediately cancel the order and our business relationship with this customer. We will refund the customer and apply a 5% administration fee, or minimum £50 fee. We will endeavour to refund our customer within a 14 day timeframe, however we may not be able to refund our customer fully until we have been able to recuperate the funds and our loss of earnings.If we are unable to cancel the order with the supplier – the order may already be in process of manufacture – we will not be able to provide a refund. We will apply a 5% administration fee, or minimum £50 fee.

– If our customer requests for an order to be cancelled we will liaise with the third party supplier on their behalf and request a refund and apply a 5% administration fee, or minimum £50 fee. If the order is already in manufacture and we are unable to cancel the order with the third party supplier, we can not issue a refund to our customer. If we are able to offer a refund to our customer we will endeavour to do so within a 14 day timeframe, however we may not be able to refund our customer fully until we have been able to recuperate the funds and our loss of earnings.

– We are not responsible for third party supplier stock delay, faulty material/products or damage (this particularly relates t0 delivery companies). 

 

Interior Design & Soft Furnishing Service

1. Introduction

a) Master Soft Furnishers (“we”, “us” or “our”) provides an interior design service. The purpose of this Agreement is to ensure that the Client (“you”, “your” or “yours”) are aware of and agree to the specific services we will provide and the terms on which we will provide them, including our remuneration.

b) Our services will be provided in two stages. Stage 1 will include your initial instructions to us, our visit/s to your site/s, formulation of designs and preparation of our Initial Design. Upon your acceptance of our Initial Design we will commence Stage 2. Stages 1 and 2 will be supplied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

2. Design Fee

a) In consideration for providing the services we will require a Design Fee. This Design Fee will be a percentage of the TOTAL project cost (excluding disbursements, see clause 6) and will be agreed between you and us and will be paid in four instalments (at each instalment stage we will issue an invoice to you):

1. The first instalment will be due and payable on signing this Agreement and Acceptance of Order for our service.
2. The second instalment will be due and payable on our delivery to you of our Initial Design and your acceptance of our Initial Design.
3. The third instalment will be due and payable on Implementation of Initial Design.
4. The fourth instalment will be due and payable on delivery and installation of goods and completion of services.

b) The Design Fee represents reimbursements for our creative input, sourcing of soft and hard furnishings, presentation to you of mood boards with photographs, imagery, samples and interior plans. To the extent agreed between you and us, we will find, order, co-ordinate and make-up such items as: furniture, fabrics and soft furnishings, curtains, flooring, antiques, accessories, garden furniture and any other household wares, and manage the installation of these items. We will assist with the assessment and selection of third party contractors such as builders, carpenters, decorators and carpet fitters, and provide a project management service of these.

c) Where we are unable to give an exact total project cost, a reasonable estimated Design Fee will be stated and calculated accordingly at each instalment stage.

3. Stage 1 – Initial Design

a) The Initial Design represents our creative input, sourcing of soft and hard furnishings, presentation to you of mood boards with photographs, imagery, samples, interior plans and estimated costing for goods and services.

b) The Initial Design will contain the estimated costs of Stage 2 Implementation of Initial Design. Where we are unable, for whatever reason, to give a reliable estimate, a provisional cost sum (PC Sum) will normally be given.

c) Where the Initial Design and/or budget is not acceptable to you, you must within a reasonable period of time, let us know what part/s of the Initial Design is/are not acceptable to you and what amendments would make it acceptable to you. We will use our reasonable endeavours to amend our Initial Design to accommodate your concerns. Where no agreement between us can be reached, you or we may terminate this Agreement subject to payment by you in full of the balance of outstanding payments for works carried out by us.

d) In the event of termination at anytime during Stage 1, all designs, layouts and other professional work remain our copyright and may not be reproduced, used or passed on to any third-party without our consent. We shall not withhold our consent unreasonably.

4. Stage 2 – Implementation of Initial Design

a) Deposit: (calculated on a percentage basis as set out in Fee Proposal Outline for each supply element as defined in the Initial Design) a deposit of the estimated costs will be immediately due and payable followed by further progress payments and a final payment on delivery and installation of goods and completion of our services as set out in Fee Proposal Outline. The deposits represent part payment for the goods and services to be supplied by us.

b) Goods and Services: We will find, order, co-ordinate and make-up such items as: furniture, fabrics and soft furnishings, curtains, flooring, antiques, accessories, garden furniture and any other household wares, and manage the installation of these items.

5. Payment Terms

a) We will issue an invoice to you and payment must be made within 14 days of the date of our invoice.

b) You will not withhold any invoice payment, except to the extent you dispute in good faith any item invoiced by us, unless you give notice to us within 14 days of the date of our invoice of your intention to withhold payment and the grounds for withholding payment. If we do not receive such notice and invoices are not settled interest will be charged at 3% over the Bank of Scotland base rate on the outstanding balance.

c) Where you order/appoint goods and services from third party suppliers and contractors you will be responsible for meeting their invoice in full.

6. Disbursements

Disbursements such as carriage, deliveries, insurance, printing, stationery and photographic costs and other attendant costs such as travel expenses and parking will be charged to you in accordance with terms outlined above.

7. Your Obligations

a) You should ensure that adequate arrangements are in place as once any goods for which we are responsible are delivered to site, they cease to be in our care, custody, or control.

b) Where we are to handle your goods or when goods are ordered directly by you from a third party supplier, you should ensure that you have adequate insurance in place.

c) Throughout the period of this Agreement you will give us safe and convenient access to your site/s as we may reasonably require at reasonable times.

d) You will obtain any and all planning consents or other permissions or approvals necessary. We accept no liability for any defect in any such consents, permissions or approvals or for any failure by you to obtain any and all relevant consents, permissions or approvals.

8. Additional Goods and Services

In the event of no previously agreed estimated cost or fee, goods and services provided by us at your request (including any disbursements and expenses) will be charged to you.

9. Third Party Contractors and Suppliers

When third party contractors and suppliers have been appointed directly by you, at your request we will provide, for an additional small fee, a specification advice service. Payment to this third party will be in accordance with clause 5 d). We are not responsible for the actions, omissions or conduct of any third party supplier or contractor appointed by you, including any failure to meet any timetable specified.

10. Changes to the Initial Design during Stage 2

a) Where you or we suggest material changes to our Initial Design, we will provide you with a revised costs estimate or PC Sum.

b) Where changes are agreed and goods or services which have been approved by you as part of the Initial Design have been ordered or supplied and are no longer required, we cannot guarantee our or any supplier’s ability to accept a return or offer any level of refund, but will make reasonable efforts to accommodate any request.

11. Liability

a) We warrant that the goods that we supply (but not those bought from third parties by you or by us as your agent) (1) will correspond in all material respects with our description of them, (2) will be of satisfactory quality, (3) will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of 12 months after delivery and (4) fit for their purposes. The services we provide (but not those supplied by third parties through orders placed by you) will be carried out to a reasonable standard of care. We will also carry out our work within a reasonable period of time, however, we cannot be liable for any delays caused by circumstances outside our reasonable control.

b) We shall have no liability in respect of any defect arising from (1) fair wear and tear, (2) wilful damage, (3) negligence in using or caring for goods, (4) failure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations, (5) misuse, alteration or repair of goods.

c) We will have no liability under clause 11 a) unless you notify us within a reasonable time after discovery of the defect. In any event we must receive such notification within 12 months of delivery. Where a valid claim is notified to us we may (as appropriate) repair, replace or re-perform the goods or services (or any part) free of charge or refund payment to you.

d) We shall not (except in respect of death or personal injury caused by our negligence) have any further liability to you in respect of clause 11 a) and we shall not be liable to you for indirect losses such as inconvenience in respect of any breaches of this Agreement which are not caused by our wilful default.

e) These warranties are in addition to any warranties or conditions by law and these conditions do not affect but are in addition to your statutory rights.

12. Confidentiality and exclusivity

The work that we undertake for you is completely confidential. We may however retain photographs and design ideas for use in our promotional literature and online publications. We will not attribute any such photographs or design ideas to you. Occasionally we are asked to provide photographs and designs to third parties and we will obtain your permission prior to releasing such information for publication. Our designs, layouts and other professional work remain the copyright of Victoria Hammond and may not be re-produced or used without our prior consent.

13. Termination

a) You or we may terminate this Agreement by notice in writing at any time during Stage 1. Where you terminate the Agreement during Stage 1 for any reason other than our breach of contract or negligence, you shall be liable for payment in full of the balance of outstanding payments for works carried out by us. Where we terminate the Agreement during Stage 1 for any reason other than your breach of contract, you shall be liable to us for the costs incurred or committed by us during Stage 1 plus our reasonable profit. Where any part of the deposit is to be reimbursed to you we shall do so within 30 days of the date of termination.

b) During Stage 2, you may terminate this Agreement by notice in writing at any time and we may do so with your agreement or if you are in breach of this Agreement at any time or if completion of Stage 2 is delayed for more than 3 months because of (in our reasonable opinion) delays by you and/or your contractor(s). Such termination under clause 14 will not (without prejudice to any of our or your rights and remedies) affect your responsibility to meet all outstanding invoices and all invoices for goods and services which have been supplied or ordered or to which we have committed but not yet invoiced. If this Agreement is terminated under this clause 14, all designs, layout and other professional work remain our copyright and may not be passed on to any third party.

14. Force Majeure

We will not be liable for any failure or delay in supplying of goods or services under this Agreement to the extent that we are prevented, hindered or delayed from doing so by any cause beyond our control including an unavoidable incident, the default of sub-contractors or suppliers, compliance with any law or governmental order, rule, regulation or direction. Where we claim Force Majeure under this Agreement our obligations may be suspended and we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible, stating the date and extent of suspension and the cause of it and shall use our reasonable endeavours to remedy the cause of suspension. We will notify you as soon as reasonably practical after removal of the cause.

15. General

a) If any term of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the term or any part of it will be deleted. This will not affect the validity of the other terms of this Agreement and the remainder of the term in question.

b) Notices required or permitted to be given under this Agreement must be in writing addressed to the relevant party at its principal place of business.

c) Where more than one individual signs this Agreement with us, each individual (except where they sign on your behalf as an agent) shall be jointly liable under this Agreement.

d) You shall not assign, sub-contract, license or otherwise dispose of any part of your rights or obligations under the Agreement without the prior written consent of us.

e) A person who is not party to this Agreement has no rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of Agreement.

f) This Agreement is governed by the laws of England and you and we submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

(Company Policies)

 

COMPLAINTS POLICY

Master Soft Furnishers aims to provide a high quality teaching and learning service, which meet our clients and learners’ needs. We believe we achieve this most of the time: if we are getting it right please let us know.

In order to ensure our services remain at a high and improving standard, we have a procedure through which you can inform us if, for any reason, you are not satisfied with your dealings with the Organisation.

VERBAL COMPLAINT

If you are unhappy about any ofBury Farm Collective’s service(s), please speak to Victoria Hammond directly.

If you are unhappy with the way in which your course is being taught please speak initially to your course tutor.

If you are unhappy with an individual at Master Soft Furnishers ‘s business premises/training venue sometimes it is best to speak to him or her directly. If you feel this is difficult or inappropriate then please speak to Victoria Hammond.

Often we will be able to give you a response straight away. When the matter is more complicated we will give you at least an initial response within five working days. Our aim is to ensure that our response to complaints is:

Timely and efficient, to enable us to facilitate a speedy resolution.
Fair and transparent to all parties.
Facilitates informal conciliation such as mediation where possible.
Promotes feedback and best practice by informing the delivery of future course delivery and staff training.

MAKING A WRITTEN COMPLAINT

If you are not satisfied with our response or wish to raise the matter more formally, please write to Master Soft Furnishers/Victoria Hammond. All written complaints will be logged. You will receive a written acknowledgement within three working days.

OUR AIM

Our aim is to investigate your complaint properly and give you a reply within ten working days, setting out how the problem will be dealt with. If this is not possible, an interim response will be made informing you of the action taken to date or being considered.

APPEALS POLICY

The Policy below is designed to protect Bury Farm Collective ‘s clients and all members of the Bury Farm Collective Team. The principle of our appeals procedure is based upon communication and our aim to ensure a fair outcome for all parties.

PURPOSE

The purpose of our Appeals Policy is to:

Enable a client/student to enquire, question or appeal against an assessment decision.
Ensure that an attempt to reach agreement between the client/student and the assessor can be made at the earliest opportunity.
Facilitate a client/student’s right of appeal to the awarding organisation if necessary.
Protect the integrity of the qualification/training course and the interests of all clients/students on the affected and future training courses.
Ensure openness and fairness by recording any appeal in a standardised way.
To maintain the quality of learning provision across the Organisation.

PROCEDURE

All clients/students will be informed of the Appeals and Complaints Policies and Procedures as part of their Course Induction. All members of the Master Soft Furnishers team will also be made aware of these policies and procedures as part of their Employee/Contractor Induction. All relevant Master Soft Furnishers policies and procedures are made available to all staff in the Staff Handbook.

If the client/student disagrees with any assessment decision he/she must discuss the matter with their tutor/assessor in the first instance, to see whether a mutually satisfactory solution can be reached informally. The tutor/assessor will record the discussion and any agreed outcome in writing, making this available to the client/student.

If the client/student remains unhappy with the decision, a formal appeal may be filed with Victoria Hammond, no later than 30 days after the assessment decision and discussion with the tutor/assessor. The tutor/assessor and Victoria Hammond will meet to discuss the Appeal and Victoria Hammond will make her judgement on the assessment. The discussion will be recorded in writing and the decision relayed to the student.

If the student wishes to appeal further, the documented Appeal will be discussed with the awarding organisation quality reviewer/external verifier at his/her next visit or forwarded to him/her by email or post.

Victoria Hammond’s decision is final and the outcome of the Appeal will be communicated in writing to the client/student within two weeks of receiving the response from the awarding organisation.

This policy applies to the following decisions:

(a) Appeal against a specific unit or whole qualification assessment decision.

(b) Appeal against a decision that a client/student cannot progress to the next stage of a unit or course (i.e their current programme of study is terminated). This includes clients/students who are not allowed to progress on their current course/unit but who are offered transfer to another course or unit.

(c) Appeal against a decision not to award the qualification/training course certificate for which a client/student is registered. This relates to decisions made at the end of a course or unit and includes appeals against decisions not to award any qualification/course certificate.

(Equal Opportunities and Reasonable Adjustments Policy)

Master Soft Furnishers is committed to providing equal opportunities for all team members and clients/students. This policy is designed to support equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice and protect all employees/sub-contractors of Victoria Hammond and to provide fair and equal treatment of all students. Master Soft Furnishers is committed to providing a learning environment which ensures that employees/sub-contractors/clients/students are able to realise their full potential and to achieve success irrespective of their gender, race, sexual orientation, age, religion or disability.

KEY ISSUES

To meet this commitment, Victoria Hammond will ensure:

Assessments are fair for all clients/students and based on their achievements only and do not discriminate.
Course materials and written resources meet the diversity of all clients/students and support equality of opportunity.
Continually develop all our staff, our trainers and assessors.
We will continually monitor equality and opportunity, reasonable adjustments and special considerations through our internal systems and procedures.
Our quality procedures apply fair processes.

POLICY AND PROCEDURE

REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS

Master Soft Furnishers recognises the duty to make reasonable adjustments for clients/students which aim to ensure that as far as is reasonable; all students have the same opportunities for fulfilling their full potential.

Reasonable adjustments will be available for any client/student who requires support.

We will ensure that reasonable adjustments are set in place before the learning assessments take place and we will further ensure that there is parity in all the assessments across all units of courses delivered.
Master Soft Furnishers will approve and record details of reasonable adjustment and make available for external verification.

Reasonable adjustments include the following:

Access to course materials and equipment.
Access to large print materials if required.
There is a well-equipped training room and additional resources built to meet the needs of learners where ever reasonable.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATION

A special consideration is an action taken after the assessment date which allows clients/students who have been disadvantaged by temporary illness, injury or adverse circumstances either at the time of the assessment or during registration for courses, the period before booking assessments:

Cannot complete within the required registration expiry date due to circumstances beyond their control. In this case the assessment or registration timeline may be frozen for that period. The remaining time left to complete the unit/qualification will be calculated using the original date Master Soft Furnishers were informed.
Misses part of the practical assessment because of circumstances out of their control.
Is present for the assessment but who may be disadvantaged due to temporary illness, injury or adverse circumstances that arose at or near the time of the assessment.
Special consideration should not give the learner and unfair advantage over another client/student. Master Soft Furnishers will keep a record of any special consideration request for external verification purposes.
Special consideration is not appropriate for minor illnesses.
It may not be possible to apply special consideration where an assessment requires demonstration of practical competence.
A request for special consideration form should be submitted with supporting evidence for example; medical or psychological reports or statement from the external verifier.

 

(Health & Safety Policy)

 

This policy will be updated as our business changes in line with new legislation. It will be reviewed and updated as necessary, a minimum of once a year.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY

We owe a duty of care to all students and visitors. In order to discharge this duty we take steps to ensure working and learning environments are safe with risks to health being reduced to a minimum or eliminated. These steps include:

Centre risk assessments.
Well designed, user friendly documentation.
Robust action plans.
Staff awareness & training initiatives.
H & S being an agenda item at board and centre meetings.
H & S training to students/visitors.
Robust vetting & approval process for placement companies.
H & S being part of student reviews.
Common sense at all times.
An annual review of the policy.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Victoria Hammond

Has ultimate responsibility for H & S in the company and is responsible for the operational management of H & S including changes to policies and procedures and resourcing of facilities. Ensures audits, PAT testing and repairs are carried out in a timely manner to conform to legislation and good practice at all times. Is the nominated First-Aider.

All employees

Share a collective responsibility for ensuring we offer safe environments to all staff/ students/visitors.

MANAGEMENT OF HEALTH & SAFETY

Clients/Students in our training centre are introduced to premises layout, health & safety requirements, emergency and first aid procedures during induction.

ACCIDENT REPORTING

All accidents and incidents are recorded in the Accident Book.
Investigate accidents that result in serious injury and take action to reduce or eliminate the chances of re-occurrence.
Follow RIDDOR procedures when necessary for serious injuries, and report any RIDDOR incidents via the HSE.gov.uk website within 10 days, using form HSE F2508.

DISABILITIES AND/OR SPECIFIC LEARNING DIFFERENCES

Risk assessment completed by Victoria Hammond when a member of staff/student/client has a disability and/or specific learning difference.

FIRE DRILLS & EVACUATION

The evacuation procedure and meeting point is displayed prominently in all rooms.
The smoke alarms are tested monthly by Victoria Hammond.
Supply and maintenance of fire extinguishers is contracted out.
Visually impaired – will be accompanied by a member of staff at all times, and receive clear verbal instructions.
Hearing impaired – will be accompanied by a member of staff at all times, and receive clear physically noticeable gestures.

FIRST AID

Provide a first aid box with a standard range of supplies positioned in the Workroom.

Provide a first aider who is appropriately qualified, or working towards an appropriate qualification.