COMPLAINT RESOLUTION POLICY: POL0027

 

Introduction

A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction.  It is a specific grievance of anyone who has been negatively affected by actions of Mahboba’s Promise staff, volunteers, partners or anyone acting on behalf of Mahboba’s Promise or who believes the organisation has failed to meet a stated commitment.

We believe that our supporters should have confidence that their donations are applied for the purposes for which they are intended. It is their right to follow the mechanisms we have in place to lodge a complaint if they feel that confidence is being eroded.

We believe that we are accountable to the people we aim to help through our work. All beneficiaries and stakeholders of our projects need the opportunity to be heard if they have a grievance or suggested improvements related to our work.

Mahboba’s Promise has an ethical obligation to listen to, investigate and respond promptly to complaints raised with the organisation.  It also has obligations under the Code of Conduct of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and other statutory bodies to effectively recognise and resolve any complaints.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to outline the process the organisation takes when dealing with complaints and how someone can lodge a complaint about any aspect of Mahboba’s Promise.

Scope:

This Policy applies to all Mahboba’s Promise staff, volunteers, partners and anyone acting on behalf of the organisation. Any complaint is accepted by Mahboba’s Promise that is made in good faith without malicious intent.

Policy

Mahboba’s Promise has an established process to promote prompt, effective resolutions to any complaints raised with the organisation. Mahboba’s Promise is committed to reviewing complaints as a way to promote organisational learning and improve its policies, processes and overall actions.

 

Mahboba’s Promise strives to:

  • Provide a fair complaints procedure which is clear and easy to use for anyone wishing to make a complaint, irrespective of their gender, status, background and ability
  • Publicise the existence of our complaints procedure so that people know how to contact us to make a complaint
  • Make sure all staff, volunteers and partners know how to proceed if a complaint is received
  • Make sure all complaints are investigated fairly and in a timely way
  • Make sure that complaints are, wherever possible, resolved and that relationships are repaired
  • Gather information which helps us to improve our operations

 

Procedure

  1. How we publicise our complaints policy and support the policy:
  • On the Mahboba’s Promise Inc. website together with our contact details and reference to the ability to make a complaint regarding an alleged breach of the Code to the ACFID Code of Conduct Committee.
  • In the Annual Report together with our contact details and reference to the ability to make a complaint regarding an alleged breach of the Code to the ACFID Code of Conduct Committee.

In Afghanistan, this policy is translated in Dari (or Pashtu if operating in a Pashtu-majority area) and displayed at all facilities. MPA is to share this policy with any implementing partner. MPA is also responsible for communicating the existence of this policy to all project beneficiaries and providing them with a copy of the policy if requested.

  • Staff and Volunteer training on complaints handling is regularly conducted so all workers can respond to a complainant with confidence and a clear understanding of the processes involved.

 

  1. How to make a complaint?

Complaints may be addressed to Mahboba’s Promise by any means (email, letter, telephone, personal contact).

Contact details are as follows:

Mahboba’s Promise Inc.

PO Box 6234

North Ryde NSW 2113, Australia

Telephone: +61 2 9887 1665

office@mahbobaspromise.org

Website: www.mahbobaspromise.org

 

In Afghanistan, complaints can be addressed to:

 

Mahboba’s Promise Afghanistan
Shamali Main Road – Boostan-e-Kabul St
Kabul 27500
Afghanistan

Telephone: 93774421442
email: MPA General Manager- khalid.malikzada@gmail.com

 

A person within Afghanistan can also lodge their complaint with our Sydney office via the above channels if they wish to do so.

There is no fee for lodging a complaint and there are no adverse repercussions for a complainant.

 

  1. Taking the complaint

If the complaint is made by telephone or in person to staff, a volunteer or Management Committee member, they must:

  • Listen, emphasise and show understanding, be patient and courteous.
  • Not become defensive, blame someone else or jump to conclusions.
  • Respect the complainant’s wishes. (ie:  if they would like to speak privately to a member of the Management Committee and do not wish to discuss their complaint with you, advise them that you will arrange for a Committee member to call them back.)
  • Thank the person for raising the problem and bringing it to our attention.
  • Write down what the person says and ask them to repeat specific details that need to be correct, particularly their contact details.
  • Ask questions to make sure we understand the background (eg: names, type of problem, location of the problem) and summarise the issue back to the person.
  • Advise the person what will happen next. e. A Management Committee member or the Office Manager will call them back within 48 hours
  • Record a file note of the complaint with date of call, all the details and a note of what response has been promised and when into the complaints register.
  • Make sure to bring the communication to the attention of the Management Committee.

If the complaint is made by email, or letter:

  • Ring or email the complainant to confirm the complaint has been received, get further information if required and confirm that a Management Committee Member or the Office Manager will get back to them within 48 hours.
  • Make a record of the complaint with date/time of call/email and content in the complaints register.
  • Make sure to bring the communication to the attention of the Management Committee.

 

  1. Processing of the complaint

The Office Manager will be the “person responsible “for investigating the complaint and for liaison with the complainant and the Management Committee, unless there is a perceived conflict of interest or the complaint relates to the Office Manager.  If this is the case, the complaint will be investigated by a member of the Management Committee.

The person responsible will:

  • Keep a file for the complaint with all file notes and background information, with updates made as progress is made.
  • Make an entry in the Complaint Register- found in the Governance section of the Sydney office Shared Drive. If a complaint is made within Afghanistan, MPA must inform the Sydney office and provide the file information for the complaints register in Sydney.
  • Respect the complainant’s right to privacy and anonymity if requested.
  • Gather information, plan the investigation; interview or ask for statements from any staff/volunteers involved and consult Mahboba and members of the Management Committee where appropriate. Assess the complaint and give it priority. Is it minor (such as, a misconception based on an error), moderate (requires some investigation and possible remedial action) or serious (carries high or extreme reputational, financial or legal risk to Mahboba’s Promise)?
  • Evaluate the risk to the organisation/stakeholders arising from the complaint, if any, and keep the Management Committee informed of any perceived risk.
  • Keep in touch with the complainant and let them know that they are taking full responsibility for dealing with the problem.
  • Adopt a solution-focused approach by actively involving the complainant in this process.
  • Propose a solution which may incorporate some or all of the following: a full or better explanation of what occurred, an apology, organisational or operational change.
  • Offer the complainant the proposed solution and get their agreement that this satisfies them.
  • Keep the complainant informed of progress during the process.
  • Ensure all promised action is fully completed promptly.
  • Advise the complainant of any action that will be taken to prevent the problem arising again.
  • If the complainant is not satisfied with the proposed solution, offer an internal review by the Management Committee or refer them to ACFID if the complaint refers to a breach of the Code of Conduct.Complaints should be marked ‘confidential’ and emailed to:
    Chair, ACFID Code of Conduct Committee
    Email tocode@acfid.asn.auOr posted to:
    Chair, ACFID Code of Conduct Committee
    Care Of ACFID
    Private Bag 3
    Deakin ACT 2600
  • Ensure all steps to resolve the dispute are documented
  • Complete the investigation and conclude the process within 21 days unless that time frame is not achievable.

 

  1. Follow-Up
  • Where appropriate, follow-up with complainant at a future date.
  • The file notes should be tabled at the next Management Committee meeting.
  • Implement any changes necessary to prevent a re-occurrence of the complaint.
  • Once a year at the Management Meeting in June, prior to the financial year end and writing of the Annual Report, the Complaints Log should be discussed and analysed as a whole to see what trends emerge, if any, and discuss future action.
  • Best practice dictates de-identified reporting in the Annual Report.
  • Where the majority of the Management Committee believes the complaint is a major transgression of the ACFID Code of Conduct, Mahboba’s Promise will notify ACFID of the matter.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Office Manager to ensure that:

  • Staff and volunteers are trained to take complaints.
  • Access for complainants is clearly stated on the Mahboba’s Promise website, annual reports and other relevant organisational collateral.
  • Complaints are investigated and reported to the Management Committee.

It is the responsibility of MPA to ensure that:

  • This policy is translated into Dari (and/or Pashtu when necessary)
  • The policy is distributed at all Mahboba’s Promise operated facilities and projects
  • All partners are aware of and have access to this policy
  • All beneficiaries are aware of this policy and can access it if required

It is the responsibility of the staff and volunteers to ensure that:

  • Where possible, potential problems are identified to prevent and address issues before they become formal complaints.
  • Complaints are handled in accordance with the Complaints Resolution Policy and Procedures.

It is the responsibility of the Management Committee to ensure that:

  • The Complaints Log is reviewed annually and any lessons, training or compliance issues related to this are addressed Adequate insurances are in place to avoid personal liability of Mahboba’s Promise office-bearers, committee members and their agents.

 

 

Authorised by:

Management Committee on 26/3/12

 

Created by Revised by Date Document ID Revision Number:
Susan Denham 26/3/2012 POL0027
Alex Bellamy 14/06/2016 POL0027 1