OUR POLICIES
Our policies enable us to provide excellent customer care.
Please find the policies below that relate to our Business and specifically our ILM Qualifications.
If you are a learner on one of our ILM programmes please familiarise yourself with these policies as they will ensure you are well supported through your ILM Qualification.
Data Protection Policy
This Data Protection Policy outlines how In Good Company UK Ltd Centre collects, uses, and protects personal data. In Good Company UK Ltd are committed to respecting your privacy and complying with all applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Definitions
- Personal Data: Any information that relates to an identified or identifiable living individual.
- Sensitive Data: Personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions,religious beliefs, trade union membership, health data, sex life, or sexual orientation, genetic data, and biometric data.
- Data Subject: The individual whose personal data is being processed.
- Information We Collect
We collect personal data from you in various ways, including:
- Through registration forms: Your name, contact information, qualification aspirations, and any relevant medical conditions (if applicable for reasonable adjustments).
- During the learning process: Course progress, assignments, feedback, and assessments.
- Through surveys and feedback forms: Your opinions and experiences with our services including testimonials
- From ILM: Data necessary for qualification registration and administration.
- Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal data based on several legal grounds:
- Contractual necessity: To fulfil our contractual obligations to you in delivering your chosen coaching qualification.
- Legal obligations: To comply with regulatory requirements from ILM or other authorities.
- Legitimate interests: To improve our services, conduct market research, and send you relevant information about our offerings.
- Consent: To process sensitive data, such as medical information for reasonable adjustments.
- How We Use Your Data
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
- To deliver your chosen coaching qualification: Register you with ILM, manage your learning journey, provide course materials, assess your progress, and issue certificates.
- To communicate with you: Send essential information about your course, answer your enquiries, and provide updates on our services.
- To personalize your learning experience: Tailor your course experience and support based on your needs and progress.
- To improve our services: Analyse learner data to identify areas for improvement and enhance our curriculum and delivery methods.
- For marketing purposes: With your consent, send you information about future courses, events, and special offers. Also to market our services to new clients.
- Data Retention
We retain your personal data for the following periods:
- Learner data: For the duration of your studies and up to three years for potential audits or regulatory requirements.
- Sensitive data: For the minimum time necessary to fulfil the processing purpose and comply with legal obligations.
- Marketing data: Until you unsubscribe or withdraw your consent.
- Data Disclosure
We may share your personal data with the following entities:
- ILM: To fulfil registration, assessment, and certification requirements.
- Third-party service providers: Who support the delivery of our qualifications, our learning platform, administration, or marketing activities (subject to contractual data protection safeguards).
- Regulatory bodies: As required by law.
- Data Subject Rights
You have the following rights under the GDPR:
- The right to access your personal data: Request a copy of the information we hold about you.
- The right to rectification: Request the correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
- The right to erasure: Request the deletion of your data in certain circumstances.
- The right to restrict processing: Object to or restrict the processing of your data.
- The right to data portability: Request the transfer of your data to another organization.
- The right to withdraw consent: Withdraw your consent for processing at any time.
- Security Measures
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
- Contact Us
For any questions or concerns regarding this policy or your personal data, please contact our Data Protection Officer at [email protected]
- Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of any significant changes and ask for your consent where necessary.
Quality Statement and Related Policies
Quality Statement
In Good Company (UK) Ltd recognize that the quality of their services differentiates them from other providers and aims to provide the highest standard in coaching, training and development to clients and learners.
The principal aims of the company are:
- To have a thorough understanding of the business and/or individual needs of our clients, delegates and learners
- To strengthen relationships and encourage repeat business with existing clients
- To deliver value for money and return on investment for clients and individuals.
- To continually strive to improve our performance through analysis of feedback and continuous improvement
- To remain at the leading edge of coaching, training and development by investing in the continued professional development of all employees
- To engender a positive commitment to quality and create an environment of teamwork and co-operation that enables employees to work effectively.
- To support learners and delegates in their development journey to ensure that they learn and grow both personally and professionally
The Directors have specific responsibility for providing the necessary organisation and resources to implement this policy in all aspects of the business.
Everyone working with In Good Company (UK) Ltd has a responsibility for ensuring the quality of their work and that of persons under their supervision.
Complaints Procedure
We take quality seriously and in the unlikely event that anyone has a complaint we encourage people to raise it with us informally at the earliest opportunity so that we can work together to resolve it as quickly as possible. All complaints should be made by contacting us on [email protected]. We aim to acknowledge any complaint within 5 working days with an overview of how we will be dealing with it.
Customer satisfaction is a priority for us and we are committed to resolving any complaints raised.
Please see the Malpractice, Maladministration and Complaints Policy for further information
For our full quality policy please click here
Conflict of Interest Policy - relating to tutors and assessors
Conflict of Interest
It is the policy of In Good Company UK Ltd that tutors and assessors must be free from conflicts of interest that could adversely affect their judgement or objectivity to the organisation in conducting business activities and assessments.
Definitions
A conflict of interest may generally be defined as a conflict between the official responsibilities of a tutor, assessor, and internal verifier and any other interests the particular individual may have and as such could compromise or appear to compromise their decisions.
A conflict of interest exists where:
- In Good Company’s interests in any activity undertaken by it, on its behalf, or by a member of its group have the potential to lead it to act contrary to its interests in the development, delivery and award of qualifications in accordance with its Conditions of Recognition
- A person who is connected to the development, delivery or award of qualifications by IGC has interests in any other activity which have the potential to lead that person to act contrary to his or her interests in that development, delivery or award in accordance with the awarding organisations conditions of recognition
- An informed and reasonable observer would conclude that either of the above situations was the case.
Examples of Conflicts of interest
The following are examples of situations that could lead to actual or perceived conflicts of interest:
- Tutors, assessors and internal verifiers working with a business outside of IGC that is in direct competition with them
- Tutors, assessors and internal verifiers participating in the appointment, promotion, supervision or evaluation of a person with whom the person, has close or familial ties
- Tutors, assessors and internal verifiers having a close or familial relationship with an ILM registered learner, or learners’ family whilst being involved in decisions about the outcome of their qualification
- Tutors, assessors and internal verifiers using non-public ILM information or ILM learner data for personal gain or advantage
The existence of such interests as those outlined above, does not necessarily imply conflict, but is likely to give an appearance of conflict and as such should be declared in writing to In Good Company. This can be shared via [email protected].
Process
It is the duty of all team members to disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest, and the process for doing this is documented below:
- All team members are required to declare any conflict of interest in writing to [email protected] when they first start work with IGC. It is a requirement of their contract that, should they have a potential conflict of interest arise at any time that they immediately notify In Good Company (UK) Ltd via [email protected] and discuss it with a director to reach a decision.
- If the individual concerned has any changes to their declared circumstances, they must inform IGC immediately in writing, so that the conflict of interest can be evaluated.
Most situations require no further action than the declaration of the conflict of interest in writing and a conversation with a director. In some instances, however, the information declared will require some follow up action, in order for the conflict of interest to be managed appropriately.
The approach agreed between individual and director, will be documented and held with their records and plans for their role.
Examples of actions that could be taken:
- Individual not taking part in discussions or decisions of certain matters
- Referring certain matters for decision to others with no vested interest
- Agreeing not to be involved in a particular project or with a particular centre
- Declaring an interest when it is appropriate to do so
- Referring the matter to [email protected] for advice and guidance.
Equal Opportunities and Valuing Diversity Policy Statement and Full Policy
Equal Opportunities and Valuing Diversity Policy Statement
Scope
In Good Company (UK) Ltd is committed to the elimination of unfair discrimination and equality of opportunity in its provision of education, training and employment.
The policy applies to all learners; those seeking to be learners; employees and applicants for employment.
Aims
The Company aims:
- To ensure that none of those covered by this policy receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, marital status, age, responsibility for dependants, socio-economic status, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, political or religious conviction, sexual orientation, disability, membership / non-membership of Trade Union, local geographic (rural or community) factors or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable to the Directors;
- To create an accessible organisation and extend opportunities in education, training and employment to those groups identified as under-represented in education and training to promote lifelong learning;
- To recognise that working towards equality of opportunity is not additional or marginal to its activities, but central to the efficiency and development or the organisation, as an employer and as a provider of education and training.
The Company will take positive steps to implement this policy and monitor and evaluate its development. All In Good Company (UK) employees, associates, and learners have a mutual responsibility for implementing this equal opportunities policy.
Objective
To identify practices, procedures and customs in all areas of activity which may unfairly discriminate individuals, directly or indirectly, and replace them, as relevant, with practices and procedures which ensure equality of opportunity.
- To monitor policies and procedures that provide equality of opportunity to both learners and staff.
- To develop a marketing strategy, which addresses the needs of specific client groups, including ethnic minorities, women and people with special needs to extend participation, increase social inclusion and improve employability.
- To monitor enrolment procedures to ensure they extend access to learning.
- To provide adequate and effective support services and training for learners and centre staff.
- To establish grievance and disciplinary procedures to protect staff from discriminatory behaviour based on prejudiced attitudes and annually review these procedures. To ensure that these procedures exist for learners and staff alike.
- To provide a suitable environment for people with disabilities.
Implementation
This policy statement is available to all learners and staff and will be reviewed annually.
Training will be given to staff to ensure that this policy is implemented.
Equal Opportunities will be an integral aspect of all centre operations.
Our full policy can be viewed here
Appeals Policy - For ILM Qualifications
Definition
Appeals may be made against a range of issues relating to ILM qualifications and assessment:
- Results of assessments – decisions made by In Good Company and/or ILM
- Assessment marking – where the result is disputed– carried out by In Good Company or ILM
- ILM’s decision to decline In Good Company’s request for reasonable adjustments, special considerations and/or use of language (other than English)
- ILM’s actions to be taken following an investigation into malpractice, maladministration, plagiarism and/or cheating
- The degree of match to ILM units/qualifications identified by an ILM mapping or a RPL exercise
Appeals can be made regarding the results of:
- ILM qualifications assessed by In Good Company
- ILM assessment delivery services
- Assessment by ILM External Verifiers
There are some appeals that In Good Company in Partnership with ILM will not investigate eg:
- Appeals submitted more than 30 working days after the date on which In Good Company notified the learner of the result of their internal procedure, or after completion of an internal appeals procedure. In terms of ILM 30 working days from when the result has been sent to In Good Company.
- That took place before ILM received the learner’s registration
- That is or should be dealt with under an employer’s disciplinary or grievance procedures
- Involving another awarding organisation
- Involving points of law
Fees
There is a charge for re-assessment www.i-l-m.com/fees. If the final decision confirms the original assessment we will refund the re-assessment fee. If the assessment is adjusted then the fee will not be refunded.
Process
If a learner wishes to make an appeal the learner should first raise the appeal with their In Good Company point of contact for the appeal issue.
In the first instance, In Good Company, will try to resolve all appeals informally. If this is not possible then the following formal procedure will take place:
- The appeal should be in writing (letter or e-mail) and contain clearly explain the reasons for the appeal and upon which grounds the appeal is based.
- The appeal should be lodged no later than 7 working days after a decision has been communicated to a learner.
- The appeal will be considered by an independent party, who was not involved in the original decision. This independent party will carry out a review of the investigation, decision and make any subsequent enquiries to fully assess the grounds for appeal.
- The investigator will invite the learner to discuss their grounds for appeal at an appeal hearing. The learner may bring a representative such as a peer or co-learner to this hearing if they wish.
- If the learner wishes to bring a representative the investigator must be made aware of this in writing in advance of the hearing.
- The investigator will take all of the evidence into account and make a decision. This decision will be made within 14 days of the appeal being received (unless otherwise informed due to availability). The learner will be informed in writing of the decision.
- The investigator may be an external party such as an independent contractor.
- All records of appeals will be kept on file for 6 months.
Escalation to ILM Process
If a learner is still dissatisfied with the outcome they may choose to escalate this to the ILM.
Escalation to ILM can only take place once In Good Company’s internal appeals procedure has been exhausted. ILM will ask to see evidence that In Good Company’s internal appeals process has been followed and any records relating to the matter must be submitted when making an appeal.
Appeals must be made to the Regulation and Business Improvement Manager by emailing [email protected] within 30 working days (see definition) clearly stating the grounds for your appeal and all evidence needed for ILM to investigate and form a judgement (e.g., in the case of an assessment appeal, the learner’s submission must be included along with mark sheet(s) and all records of assessment, internal verification and the internal appeal).
An independent lead reviewer (e.g. Chief Assessor, Lead Assessor) will be appointed to lead the review and to chair the appeals panel, who will consult with relevant parties e.g. the learner, In Good Company staff, External Verifier, Quality Manager. They may ask for additional evidence from people associated with the appeal. The Panel will comprise a minimum of 2 members of the ILM Quality & Regulatory Group, plus participation by an independent person* who has appropriate competence within the assessment process and the subject matter. The Appeal Panel will make the binding decision on the outcome.
ILM will normally provide a response to you within 30 working days – a report on the outcome, but if it is going to take longer we will keep you fully informed.
The appointed Appeals Panel will determine the final outcome and confirm in writing with In Good Company. If the appeal is upheld, ILM will take the appropriate course of action:
Appeals against In Good Company’s assessment decision on result and/or marks
The lead reviewer will review all relevant evidence, reassess the work and write a short report on the findings. If the appeal is upheld we will amend the centre result and/or marks held on our records and take any further action as appropriate. ILM’s decision will be final and there is no further right of appeal to ILM but taking a regulated qualification may have the right of appeal.
Appeals against decision of ILM assessment delivery services on assessment result and/or mark
Where you disagree with the result or, even if you agree with the result but think the marks awarded by ILM should be higher, for a fee you can ask ILM to have that submission independently re-assessed by using a different ILM Lead Assessor.
The lead reviewer will then review all relevant evidence, including the original assessment and QA records alongside the new re-assessment, and write a report on his/her findings. The report will be presented to a convened Appeals Panel, which is a subgroup of ILM’s Quality & Regulatory Group.
If the appeal is upheld ILM will amend the result and/or marks held on our records, if necessary reissue certificates, and take any further action as appropriate. There is no further right of appeal to ILM but taking a regulated qualification may have the right of appeal. ILM will charge a re-assessment fee for appeals against an ILM assessment decision, see the ILM fees list for details.
*The independent person is defined as someone who has not held a role within ILM for at least seven years.
ILM’s decision to decline In Good Company’s request for reasonable adjustments, special considerations and/or use of language (other than English)
The lead reviewer will review In Good Company’s initial application and write a report on the outcome. The report will be presented to a convened Appeals Panel, including the ILM Chief Assessor. The Panel will make the binding decision on the outcome. There is no further right of appeal to ILM but taking a regulated qualification may have the right of appeal.
ILM’s actions to be taken following an investigation into malpractice, maladministration, plagiarism and/or cheating
The lead investigator will present the original report, In Good Company’s appeal and the grounds it was made on and any other supporting evidence to a convened Appeals Panel plus participation by an independent person who has appropriate competence within the assessment process. The panel’s decision is final and there is no further right of appeal.
If you feel that ILM has not followed its own published timescales or process then please follow the complaints procedure.
Health and Safety Policy Statement
Health and Safety Policy Statement
In Good Company (UK) Ltd is committed to pursuing excellence in everything it does and this includes the management of health and safety.
General Principles
- We are committed to achieving high standards of health, safety and environmental practice.
- The Management Directors expects all employees, associates and learners who work or study with In Good Company to share this commitment by complying with the policies and procedures, and to understand that they too have legal and moral obligations to themselves and to one another.
- We intend to ensure the health and safety of all persons who may be affected by our activities by:
- Consulting with and involving our employees, associates and learners in matters relating to their own health and safety.
- Providing, managing and maintaining our workplaces and training venues so that they are, as far as reasonably practicable, safe and that risks to health are controlled.
- Providing adequate and appropriate facilities and arrangements for welfare at work.
- Providing, managing and maintaining plant and equipment so that it is, so far as reasonably practicable, safe and that risks to health are controlled.
- Identifying hazards and conducting formal risk assessments when appropriate in order to minimise the risk for all activities undertaken by In Good Company.
- Ensuring that control measures and emergency procedures are: in place; effective; properly used; monitored and maintained.
- Implementing systems of work that are safe and where risks to health are controlled.
- Providing the information, instruction, training and/or supervision necessary to ensure that employees, associates and learners are competent to undertake their activities and are aware of any related hazards and the measures to be taken to protect against them, and giving adequate information on relevant hazards to any persons whose health and safety might be affected by them.
- Keeping up to date with best practice in relation to health and safety and complying with all relevant legislation and authoritative guidance.
- Monitoring the safety performance of contractors/associates who work for us.
- Where there are no existing Company policies or guidance, we expect our employees, associates and learners to implement the highest relevant standards and to comply with relevant legislation. Where no standards or legislation exist, we will work with our employees, associates and learners to develop systems which comply with best practice and eliminate or minimise the risks so far as reasonably practicable.
- We will promote a positive health and safety culture in the Company and educate our employees and learners in health and safety. Wherever possible, information on health and safety legislation and standards applicable to a particular course will be included.
- We undertake to continually review and develop our safety management systems, with the overarching aim of conducting our activities in a manner which does not affect the health and safety of any employees, associates or learners, or adversely affect the environment.
Commitment
In Good Company (UK) Ltd are committed to this Policy and to the implementation and maintenance of the highest standards of health, safety and welfare.
Learning Environment Policy
Learning Environment Policy
In Good Company (UK) Ltd is committed to providing a safe and appropriate learning environment for all students.
We believe that the learning environment should be supportive and conducive to the creation of a high degree of trust and collaboration. The learning environment, both inside and out, should encourage high quality learning outcomes and it should be accessible and inclusive.
Our Aims
It is our aim that the learning environment, whether online or in person will be:
- Spacious and allow for collaboration, discussion and exploration through activities and exercises.
- Contribute positively to the motivation of all students
- Be safe at all times
- Be accessible and inclusive
- Be of a high standard
Our Standards
When selecting ‘in person’ locations to teach our ILM Qualifications we will be looking for:
- A bright, open room with plenty of space for collaboration
- The availability of refreshments
- A safe and healthy environment
- Accessibility for all
- A relaxing space which encourages learning
- Ability to support additional and diverse needs
When practicing online in virtual classrooms or providing learning through online mediums we will be looking for
- Security of online and virtual classrooms
- Provisions of breakout rooms
- Simplicity in application
- Elegance in platform visuals to enhance the learners engagement
- Ability to support additional needs and diverse
Continuous Improvement
In Good Company aim to select the best environments to support learning, collaboration and personal growth. We welcome feedback from all users regarding the suitability of our learning environment.
Special Considerations and Reasonable Adjustments Policy
Special Considerations and Reasonable Adjustment Policy
Introduction:
In Good Company (UK) Ltd is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive learning environment where all learners, regardless of learning difficulties or disabilities (LDDs), have the opportunity to succeed. This policy outlines our approach to providing reasonable adjustments to support learners with LDDs throughout their program and how we consider requests for special considerations, which are adjustments made to recognize unforeseen circumstances impacting performance.
Definitions:
- Learning Difficulty (LD): A persistent difficulty in acquiring or using specific learning skills, like reading, writing, or math.
- Disability: An impairment that affects a person's mobility, senses, or mental functioning in daily living.
- Special Consideration: An adjustment reflecting an unforeseen circumstance that significantly affects the learner's performance during or near an assessment.
Principles:
- Equal Opportunities: We ensure all learners have equal access to programs, assessments, and learning resources.
- Fairness: We consider all reasonable requests to ensure no learner is disadvantaged by unforeseen circumstances.
- Accessibility & Quality: We aim for fair access to assessments while maintaining program quality.
- Reasonable Adjustments: We provide appropriate adjustments based on individual needs and the Equality Act 2010.
- Confidentiality: We respect learners' privacy and treat information about LDDs and special considerations confidentially.
- Collaboration: We work collaboratively with learners, facilitators, and other relevant support services to implement effective adjustments.
Identifying Learners with LDDs:
- Learners can disclose LDDs during the application process or at any point during their programme.
- We offer initial guidance and signposting through our website and program induction.
- Learners can request a confidential interview with a member of the In Good Company UK Ltd qualifications team to discuss their needs and potential adjustments.
Types of Adjustments:
- Learning Materials: Providing accessible formats like closed captions, slide notes and large print
- Assessment Adjustments: Extended time, breaking assignments down into more manageable chunks, additional referrals for assignments.
- Teaching and Learning: We are open to understanding what additional teaching and learning methods may be helpful, for example – recording of sessions, assistive technology.
- Support Services: Additional tutor support or mentoring
Process for Requesting Adjustments:
- Learner Disclosure and Needs Assessment: Learners are requested to provide as much information as possible about their specific needs at the point of onboarding. Learners will contact the training coordinator directly on [email protected] where they require additional support. The Training Coordinator will contact the learner to discuss their needs and potential adjustments as requested in their email.
- Confirming Adjustments: where adjustments can be made and are agreed these will be confirmed in writing to the individual.
- Review and Monitoring: It is the learners responsibility to reach out for additional support or further adjustments as they progress through the programme as needed.
Examples of Special Considerations:
- Recent serious illness or injury
- Bereavement
- Significant disruptions during assessment period e.g. moving house, redundancy, carer responsibilities
Process for Requesting Special Considerations:
- Learners experiencing unforeseen circumstances impacting performance in an assessment period should:
- Email the training coordinator on [email protected] and make a request for a special consideration. This will typically be an extension request for an assignment.
- The email must provide evidence/outline their reasons for their request
- The Training Co-ordinator will review all requests (consulting the wider team as necessary) for special considerations and a decision will be communicated within 14 days
- Where the ILM need to be consulted, decisions may take up to 30 days (this would be the case for course extensions)
Responsibilities:
- Learners: Communicate their needs clearly and proactively, actively participate in their getting their needs met
- Training Co-ordinator: Coordinate support, liaise with facilitators, markers, supervisors and relevant external services.
- Facilitators/Supervisors/Markers: Implement agreed adjustments, maintain inclusive learning environments.
- In Good Company: Ensure accessibility of facilities, resources, and information.
Continuous Improvement:
- We regularly review this policy and practices to ensure effectiveness and align with best practices.
- We welcome feedback from learners, staff, and stakeholders to improve our support services.
By implementing this policy, we aim to create an inclusive learning environment where every learner can reach their full potential.
Plagiarism and Cheating Policy
Plagiarism and Cheating Policy
Academic Integrity at In Good Company
In Good Company is committed to fostering a learning environment where honesty and integrity are valued. We expect all learners to uphold high academic standards and avoid plagiarism and cheating in all assessments.
Promoting Integrity:
- We provide clear guidelines on academic integrity and plagiarism
- We offer guidance on how to write and pass assignments with our learning portal
- We create a culture of honesty and fairness in our learning environment
- We encourage learners to reach out to the team at In Good Company if they need additional support with assignments
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is using someone else's work or ideas without properly acknowledging them. This includes:
- Copying text, data, or images without quotation marks or citations
- Paraphrasing someone else's work without attribution
- Submitting work you haven't completed yourself
- Using AI to write assessed elements
What is Cheating?
Cheating is any attempt to gain an unfair advantage in an assessment. This includes:
- Sharing answers or information with others during assignments or assessments
- Using unauthorized materials or aids, such as notes or technology
- Impersonating another learner
- Fabricating or falsifying data
Consequences of Plagiarism and Cheating:
Violations of our academic integrity policy will be taken seriously and may result in:
- Reduced marks or failing grades
- Rewriting assignments
- Withholding of certificates
- Disciplinary action, including suspension or expulsion from the ILM
Avoiding Plagiarism and Cheating:
- Properly cite all sources you use, including online materials
- Use your own words and ideas when summarizing or paraphrasing others’ work
- Seek help from tutors if you’re unsure about proper citation practices
- Understand the rules and regulations for each assessment
Detecting Plagiarism and Cheating
- All learners will be made aware of this policy through their course onboarding
- All learners are required to declare that their submitted assignments are their own work
- Assessments will be marked by a relevant marker for the course
AI-Generated Work:
We continuously invest in tools and techniques to detect plagiarism and cheating through AI-generated work.
- Our markers analyse writing style, vocabulary, and structure to identify suspicious patterns
- We conduct manual reviews of flagged assessments to ensure accuracy
- Assignments are referred to standardisation meetings for additional training and to ensure consistency in marking
- Assignments are sampled by our external auditors
Process for Suspected Plagiarism or Cheating
Where plagiarism or cheating is suspected the following will happen:
1.Independent Investigator: An unbiased investigator, external if needed, will conduct interviews as necessary. These interviews may include:
- Suspected learner
- Marker
- Facilitator
- Others involved (copied work owner, etc.)
All interviews will be documented.
2.. Findings and Assessment: The Investigator will submit a written report with findings and assessment to the learner and In Good Company within 14 days (adjusting for delays).
- Proposed Sanction: If plagiarism/cheating is confirmed, a proposed sanction is submitted to the ILM within 30 days.
- ILM Review and Decision: ILM appoints a reviewer to evaluate the evidence and propose a final sanction to their Regulatory Group for a decision. In Good Company informed within a month.
Process for detecting and dealing with plagiarism and cheating as detected by the ILM or others.
There may be occasions where the ILM or others detect/report cheating or plagiarism.
If an ILM External Verifier or ILMA assessor detects cheating or plagiarism he/she will notify the relevant ILM Quality Manager and refer the incident to In Good Company. If an incident is reported by someone else (e.g. a learner or whistle blower), the incident will be referred to the Quality Manager. Incidents will be asked for in writing.
Once it has been established that there is a case to answer the Quality Manager will inform the ILM Head of Quality Practice and a lead investigator will be appointed. In Good Company may also be asked to carry out an investigation.
The normal process as stipulated in “Process for suspected plagiarism and cheating” then takes place.
All correspondence relating to plagiarism or cheating is done so using the address [email protected]
Additional Resources:
- Referencing Guide – see Appendix 1
Learner Declaration:
By submitting your work, you declare that it is your own original work and you have not plagiarized or cheated in any way.
Remember: Academic integrity is your responsibility. Upholding it ensures a fair and rewarding learning experience for everyone.
Harvard Referencing Guide for ILM learners
Referencing with Harvard Style: A Quick Guide
Harvard referencing, also known as author-date referencing, uses in-text citations and a reference list to acknowledge sources used in your work. Here's a breakdown of the basics:
In-text Citations:
- Include the author's last name and year of publication separated by a comma within brackers after the borrowed information.
- Use double quotation marks for direct quotes. For paraphrased content, quotation marks are not necessary.
- If there are two authors, list both last names separated by "and." If there are more than two authors, use "et al." after the first author's name.
- For multiple works by the same author in the same year, differentiate them by adding a lowercase letter after the year (e.g., Smith, 2023a; Smith, 2023b).
Examples:
- "According to Smith (2023), climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity." (Direct quote)
- "Studies have shown that regular exercise benefits both physical and mental health (Brown et al., 2022)." (Paraphrased)
- "Jones (2020a) explores the social impact of technology, while Jones (2020b) focuses on its economic implications." (Two works by the same author in the same year)
Reference List:
- List all cited sources alphabetically by the author's last name or the first word of the title (if no author).
- Use consistent formatting based on the type of source:
- Book: Author(s)' last name(s), initial(s). (Year). Title of book: Subtitle (if any). Edition (if not the first). City: Publisher.
- Journal article: Author(s)' last name(s), initial(s). (Year). "Title of article." Journal title, volume(issue), page range.
- Website: Author(s)' last name(s), initial(s). (Year, Month Day). "Title of article/page". Website name. URL.
Our General Terms and Conditions
Please find our general terms and conditions linked here