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Complaints procedure
Effective 22 July 2005
The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) was formerly British Institute of Architectural Technologists (BIAT) – if your complaint relates to an alleged breach of the Institute’s Code prior to 22 July 2005 a BIAT Code of Conduct must be used. Please contact the Practice Department for guidance on 020 7278 2206.
If your complaint relates to an alleged breach after 22 July 2005 please use the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists’ Code of Conduct, this can be downloaded from the website or contact CIAT direct.
1. As a professional institute, CIAT has a Code of Conduct which all members are obliged to follow. A copy is attached. CIAT does not give legal advice nor involve itself in financial disagreements between a member and client.
2. The Institute's Conduct Committee is empowered to examine complaints made against members allegedly in breach of the Code of Conduct.
3. Any person or persons wishing to have a complaint against a member examined by the Conduct Committee, will need to proceed as follows:
The complainant:
a) must complete the Complaint Receipt Form;
b) must identify the relevant clause/s in the Code of Conduct which one considers to have been breached by the member;
c) must provide full information in support of the complaint;
d) must note that a copy of the Complaint Receipt Form identifying the alleged breach together with the supporting documentation will be sent to the member who is entitled to a right of reply;
e) on receipt of the member's response (on the Members’ Response Form) CIAT will copy the documentation to the complainant for final comment (the Final Comment Form must be completed).
4. CIAT shall submit all the information from the complainant, and the reply from the member, to its Conduct Committee. CIAT shall advise the complainant of the date for the Hearing. The Conduct Committee has the power:
a) to investigate, in the first instance, whether there is a prima facie case for the member to answer at a Hearing;
b) to investigate the conduct of any member against whom a complaint has been received;
c) to formulate and determine such written charges as it thinks fit after investigation;
d) to appoint a barrister or solicitor to act as an assessor on the Committee;
e) to recommend to the CIAT’s Executive Board appropriate disciplinary action for endorsement.
5. When CIAT receive a complaint against a member it shall:
a) send to the member details of the complaint as set out above, along with the Code of Conduct and Conduct & Disciplinary Procedures, and give the member the opportunity to answer the complaint in writing;
b) advise the member that his/her response shall be copied to you, the complainant, for final comment;
c) warn the member that any answer or statement he/she may make could be used as evidence by the Conduct Committee;
d) give notice in writing (possibly at a later stage) of the date, place and time appointed for the Hearing by the Committee.
6. The Conduct Committee can find that there is no case to answer. CIAT shall advise both parties accordingly.
7. When the Conduct Committee finds that a breach of the Code of Conduct has occurred, it will recommend one of following disciplinary actions:
a) to require the member to give an undertaking in writing to refrain from further contraventions of the Institute's Code of Conduct;
b) to reprimand the member and require the member to give an undertaking in writing to refrain from further contraventions of the Institute’s Code of Conduct;
c) to suspend the member for such a period as the Committee may recommend without reassessment;
d) to suspend the member from the Institute for such period as the Committee may recommend with reassessment; or
e) to expel the member from the Institute.
8. CIAT shall advise all parties of the decision.
9. Appeals Procedure:
The Institute has in place an Independent Appeals Procedure. Following the decision of the Conduct Committee, the member or complainant shall have the opportunity to lodge an appeal; information on the right to appeal will be provided at that time. The exception to the right to appeal is if the Conduct Committee determines that there is no case to answer.
Mrs Francesca Berriman
Chief Executive
