HFI’s Removal of Membership, Complaints and Appeals Process

1. Any complaints regarding the behaviour of members of the directory should be lodged in writing with the Secretary.
2. Any person that is the subject of a written complaint or appeal shall be notified of the procedures to be followed by the relevant committee in reasonable time to prepare for any hearing.
3. The Committee shall appoint a complaints sub-committee (“Complaints Sub-Committee”) who will meet to hear complaints within [21] days of a complaint being lodged. Any person requested to attend a Complaints Sub-Committee shall be entitled to be accompanied by a friend or other representative and to call witnesses. The Complaints Sub-Committee has the power to take appropriate disciplinary action on behalf of the Committee, including the termination of membership or exclusion from the online directory.
4. The outcome of the disciplinary hearing shall be put in writing to the person who lodged the complaint and the person against whom the complaint was made within [14] days following the hearing.
5. There shall be a right of appeal within 14 days of receipt of the disciplinary decision or decision to refuse membership:

• against the Complaints Sub-Committee’s findings or the sanction imposed or both; and
• against the Committee’s refusal to admit a new member In either case, the Committee shall appoint an appeals committee (“Appeals Committee”).

The Appeals Committee shall have a maximum of three members which shall not include members involved with the initial disciplinary hearing but may include non-members of the HFI Advocacy Group. The Appeals Committee shall consider the appeal within [21] days of the Secretary receiving the appeal. The individual who submitted the appeal shall be entitled to be accompanied by a friend or other representative and to call witnesses. The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final and binding on all parties.