Scores on the Doors - guidance

Scores on the Doors -the 5-star rating scheme

North Devon Council, in conjunction with the Food Standards Agency , the London Boroughs and other selected ‘extended partners’, are piloting a 5-star rating scheme that provides user-friendly information about the standards of hygiene and compliance with the law in food premises in the region.

Access to NDC's Scores on the Doors

How will the scheme work?

The star rating is based on the scores for hygiene, structure and confidence in management, because they are under the direct control of the food business operator.

The better the standards of food safety, the higher the number of stars given. This will range from 5 stars (excellent) to 0 (zero) stars (very poor).

The overall risk rating score and star rating will only be given following a primary inspection and not after any secondary inspection (re-visits.). Secondary inspections will be carried out where necessary to ensure works have been carried out. The star rating will not be amended at the time of a Secondary Inspection.

Under our re rating policy, the star rating given to a premises will not be altered until the next primary inspection, which could be 6 months to 2 years later.

The star rating can be withdrawn if standards deteriorate - for example, if complaints are received about the premises. Therefore, the premises and food safety practices must be kept up to standard all the time to maintain the star rating. If the business changes hands at any time, the new operators must register with North Devon Council, a primary inspection will be carried out and a new star rating issued.

Initially, all registered food businesses will be issued with a ‘star rating assessment awaited’ sticker to display until such time as they receive their ‘star rating’ at their next due inspection.

'How to get five stars'

Why have we chosen not to show Scores on the Doors for inspections prior to 1 October 2007?

North Devon Council is part of a London pilot scheme and has made the decision not to backdate scores from previous inspections. Instead, scores will be displayed on the website when a business receives its first inspection following introduction of the scheme on the 1 October 2007. Therefore, the number of premises with Scores on the Doors will increase as the scheme progresses. Eventually, all premises will be included as part of the scheme.

The decision was made not to backdate scores in order to ensure a fair and level playing field for businesses. By backdating scores we would have been unable to take on board a change in legislation in 2006 and a change in the code of practice, which affected the scoring criteria.  We are now in a position that each premises is scored using the same criteria, all inspectors have been trained in scoring according to the pilot scheme and all businesses are aware of the scheme prior to receiving their first star rating.

Right of reply

A right of reply form (pdf 26kB) will be sent to the food business operator (FBO) with the inspection report.  This allows the FBO to comment on the star-rating achieved/inform the public about the improvements they have made following the last star-rating visit.  All comments will be vetted before they are placed on the website, but a revisit to verify the accuracy of the comments will not necessarily be carried out.

The right of reply form above can be printed and used by the FBO only should a right of reply be required.  The completed form must be posted to the address as indicated on the form.

Appeals procedure

Following the inspection, the officer will discuss the star rating with the food business operator (FBO) and then send confirmation with the inspection report by way of a certificate and window sticker.  If the FBO is not happy with the star rating at the time of the inspection, he/she should discuss it with the inspecting officer, or contact the officer’s line manager.

If the FBO is still unhappy with the final decision of the service, they may instigate the council's official complaints procedure.

Where will the information be available?

The star rating for all businesses will be displayed on our website.  Each business will be sent a certificate and window sticker to display on their premises.  It is not a legal requirement to display the sticker or the certificate.

example certificate (pdf 189 kB)

Example window stickers:





Only the latest star rating will be available on the website. Any previous ratings or information about particular premises is available on written request to:

Head of Environmental Health and Housing
North Devon Council
Civic Centre
North Walk
Barnstaple
Devon EX31 1EA
Fax 01271 388451
Email: customerservices@northdevon.gov.uk

This is a rating scheme to demonstrate how well or not a business is complying with food hygiene legislation. Therefore, because a business has been given a star rating it does not mean it is fully compliant with all legislative requirements.

Who will it apply to?

The star rating will only be given to those food businesses that are inspected by us in line with the council’s Food Safety Policy Statement and Service Plan.

Initially, the scheme will apply to all catering premises and retailers handling or preparing open high-risk food, for example: restaurants, take-aways, sandwich shops, staff canteens, butchers, delicatessens and cafes.

Further information