Independent decisions

The operator prepares the case and its evidence. A reviewer records the decision. Each decision links to a case, reviewer and source revision, with a date, reason and evidence reference. The decision can be Pending, Approved, Returned or Rejected. Tying the review to a revision matters when a returned application is corrected: the earlier decision still explains the version the reviewer actually saw.

Cases and Details shows pending decisions beside the selected case. The reviewer can inspect the case’s requirements, documents, status history and operation trace in context. A decision should be based on the current case facts and its supporting evidence, with a reason that another staff member can understand after the handoff.

• Separate authority. The operator maintains cases and evidence; the reviewer records decisions against the case.
• Exact revision. A review identifies the source revision so later corrections do not rewrite an earlier approval.
• Reasoned outcome. Returned and rejected decisions carry a reason and evidence reference for the next action.

Agree which reviewers cover each service and organization, and how the team avoids self-review. Decide what evidence the reviewer must inspect before approving a case. A returned case should have an explicit action owner and a clear explanation of what needs correction. The team should also agree what constitutes a material case change that calls for a new revision and a fresh decision.

Take a submitted case with a verified supporting document and a pending requirement. The reviewer should be able to see the outstanding requirement and return the current revision with a reason. The operator records the correction and follows up with the applicant. When the revised case is ready, the reviewer considers that new revision without changing the earlier return. This preserves both the reason for the delay and the basis of the eventual approval.

Open Pending Decisions and choose a case assigned to the reviewer. Compare its revision with the decision’s source revision. Check requirement outcomes and document verification in Cases and Details. Record an approval only when the case and evidence are ready. For a return or rejection, enter the reason and the evidence reference that supports it. Another person should be able to find that explanation from the case later.

A decided case can proceed toward delivery. The state history records the status change and actor. If a later correction supersedes an executed revision, the earlier review and delivery record remain separate from the successor revision. A reviewer deciding that successor must examine its own evidence rather than relying on the prior approval.

• Pending Decisions — Decisions awaiting the reviewer’s action, with case and source revision visible.
• Returned Decisions — Returned cases with their reason and decision date for correction work.

Use the independent decision process before delivery.