Validating the PIF TICK

All Trusted Information Creators must undergo an annual assessment to continue using the PIF TICK logo on their information. This helps to ensure PIF members are maintaining, and improving, the quality of their information production process. Trusted Information Creators are supported to enhance their production process by moving from achieving the minimum criteria to desirable.

Information assessments maintain the value and integrity of the PIF TICK. Trusted Information Creators are selected at random for an information assessment once they have been certified for two years or more. Information assessments are different from annual assessments because they look at specific resources rather than the wider production process. Information assessments check that:

• The information meets the PIF TICK criteria.
• The information meets the needs of the audience.
• The PIF TICK approved process has been followed and works in practice.

Information assessments may also be used as part of the process for dealing with valid complaints about PIF TICK certified information.

How information assessments can help you

• Expert feedback,
• Identified areas of improvement
• Additional assessor support
• Potential to streamline your next assessment

The information assessment process

• Trusted Information Creators selected for an information assessment three months before their next annual assessment.
• Creators provide a list of all health information with a PIF TICK, in any format, created since their last PIF TICK assessment.
• Assessment date agreed with PIF.
• A maximum of three resources selected for assessment.
• Creators given 48 hours to upload evidence.
• Evidence and resources reviewed against the criteria by an assessor and the wider PIF team.
• Results and recommendations shared at the next annual assessment.

If you want to complain about information provided by a PIF TICK creator you should contact them in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the outcome you can email us on PIFTICK@pifonline.org.uk. We will check all feedback has been logged and responded to appropriately by the certified member. If a complaint is upheld, we will work with certified members to update their process, resources or staff training. We will inform you of the outcome of our investigation.