Requesting a visit to rescore

Maintaining high hygiene standards in food businesses is essential for consumer health and safety, as well as the establishment's reputation. Businesses may seek to improve their food hygiene rating after a poor assessment by asking for a rescore outside the regular planned inspection dates. 

What is the purpose of requested visit to rescore?

You will be given a new food hygiene rating when your premises are inspected by your local authority - the frequency of these planned inspections depends on the risk to people’s health. The greater the risk, the more often you will be inspected. If you make the improvements to hygiene standards that the local authority food safety officer told you about at your last planned inspection you can ask for a re-visit so that the hygiene standards in your premises can be reassessed with a view to giving you a new and higher food hygiene rating.

Is there anything I should do before making a request for a visit?

You are recommended to look carefully at the comments that the food safety officer made  on your last inspection report or letter and make sure that you have taken appropriate action to address any issues raised. You can discuss anything you are unsure about with your food safety officer or ask for further help on how to make improvements. This is important because you can only have one re-score visit between the local authority’s planned inspections of your premises. The officer will be looking at standards generally – not just at the specific areas you have been working to improve – so your hygiene rating could well go down and not up and you will not be able to get a new rating then until your next planned inspection which may not be for some time.

What should I do if I want to request a visit to re-score?

You can apply for your rescore inspection online through the council website  or clicking on the following  rescore link . You must explain what actions you have taken on the issues raised at your last inspection and you should include supporting evidence, for example, receipts or photographs to show that work has been completed. This is important as the local authority could refuse your request if you do not provide sufficient information and evidence. If the request is refused you will be given a reason for refusal  and advice on action you need to take or evidence, before your request can be agreed. If you do not agree with the local authority’s decision to refuse your request, you can raise the matter with the lead officer for food. If you cannot resolve matters with the lead officer for food, you, you can use the complaints procedure for your local authority, details of which may be found on the authority’s website.

How long do I have to make my request?

There is no deadline for this - you can ask at any time after you’ve taken action to make the necessary improvements that were identified at your inspection. You cannot, however, dictate when the re-visit will take place.

How soon will the local authority visit?

Your revisit will be made within the 3 month period following receipt of your completed application form together with the full fee of £176.  If you are still waiting for a re-visit after these times, you can ask the lead officer for food to investigate. If you cannot resolve matters in this way, you can use the Council’s complaints procedure.

What happens next and when will I know the result of the visit to rescore?

At the visit, the food safety officer will assess the standards of hygiene at your premises and you will be told in writing - either at the time or within 14 days (this includes weekends and bank holidays) - what your new food hygiene rating is. This could stay the same as before, it could go up, or it could down. As with the original hygiene rating, you can appeal this if you think it is wrong or unfair or you can submit a ‘right to reply’ for publication online at www.food.gov.uk/ratings

Will the visit to rescore cost me anything?

The charge for a FHRS rescore inspection will be £176 this can be paid by debit or credit card over the phone. This needs to be paid once the application form has been submitted. Forward a copy of the receipt to environmental.health@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk this will then be attached to the application form.