Step 5: Assessment Visit

The purpose of the assessment visit is for the visitors to see evidence that your hall complies with the published Hallmark standards. Please remember:

• This is not an inspection, examination or actually even an assessment; it is an evidence gathering exercise.
• The visitors are volunteers giving their time to help you and deserve respect for doing that
• The visitors do not decide whether you get the Hallmark award, they submit evidence to be moderated by a third party 
• The visitors are not empowered to modify the standards in any way, they must interpret the standards as published – you either comply or you do not, there is no ‘nearly’!
• The visitors are there for you to demonstrate your compliance with the standards to them, they are not there to advise on how to comply and you should not ask them for such advice
• The visitors are only interested in the Hallmark standards; you get no extra points for pointing out other features or practices that you are particularly proud of!
• Finding non-compliances, even in the best run halls, is not unusual and should not been seen as a criticism. Please do not be offended if non-compliances are found, you will have plenty of opportunity to put things right if necessary
• There should be no surprises for either party during the visit! Please ensure you have been through the visit check list  and Documents Required (see step 4) prior to the visit so you know what the visitor will ask for and will want to see 
• The visitors should abide by an agreed code of conduct (Download copy attached) and you will be given the opportunity to comment on whether your visitors followed that code

The visit should take anything from an hour up to a maximum of two hours. The better prepared you are the quicker the process tends to take.

At the end of the visit your visitors will run through any of the standards that were not proven as met. This gives you a second opportunity to provide that evidence. As stated above but we state again:

1. Presence of non-compliances does not necessarily mean that you will fail to get the Hallmark award
2. The visitors are not permitted to advise you on how to rectify non-compliances
3. The visitors cannot waive compliance with any standard