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Applying for Service Accreditation

Service Delivery

The Service Accreditation Scheme provides a professional focus on the delivery of a counselling and psychotherapy service, and only those services can be awarded BACP service accreditation.

Service accreditation offers a kitemark standard that emphasises safe, competent and efficient service provision. It aims to ensure the service provided is able to meet the needs of its local community and/or target population. The benefits not only strengthen confidence in service users but also supports staff in order for them to be able to provide a service they can be proud of.

Applying for service accreditation requires that a service meets a range of criteria, those topics include: management and administration, aims and objectives, equal opportunities, health and safety, evaluation and feedback, professional conduct, accommodation and community liaison. An application must describe how it meets each criterion and then provide evidence to show that it does what it believes it does. This is then assessed against the criteria by BACPs trained assessors.

Once accreditation has been awarded a certificate will be issued and the organisation can advertise their counselling/psychotherapy service as BACP accredited. Care needs to be taken to guard against implying 'organisational accreditation', especially for those agencies that provide a range of services, of which their counselling/psychotherapy service is one element. Accredited services may also wish to subscribe to the BACP Accredited Service logo; for more information about this scheme, please contact Linda.Davis@bacp.co.uk

  

Service Accreditation Information Pack

  

How to Apply

There is no specific application to complete. Instead, services are required to gather together the material they need to show how they meet each of the criteria and submit two complete hardcopies for assessment. An application template has been provided, which applicants are free to adapt as they wish.

Two complete copies of an application must be submitted to enable the assessment process to be completed. The first copy should contain the original signature of the applicant making the submission, plus the original declaration of support. If preferred, a CD containing all the information contained within an application can be submitted in place of the second copy.

A complete application should consist of the following:

  • Organisational name, address and BACP membership number
  • Name and contact details of individual submitting the application
  • A declaration statement in support of the application from a source external to the service
  • A list of self-statements describing how each of the criteria have been met
  • An appendix of supporting evidence showing how the criteria are being met, clearly referenced to the appropriate criteria
  • Submission fee

The package should be addressed to Penny Thomas, Accreditation Officer - Service Accreditation, BACP, 15 St John's Business Park, Lutterworth LE17 4HB

  

Fees and ongoing costs

Accreditation lasts for a five year period, at which point a service would need to submit a re-accreditation application, showing that they continue to meet all the criteria as outlined in the Service Accreditation Scheme. During this period, an annual report detailing any changes made to that service during that 12 month period must be submitted.

As of 1 April 2010 the fees for service accreditation submissions are:

New Application - £970 for commercial organisations and £257 for not-for-profit organisations

Annual Report - £140 commercial organisations and £75 not-for-profit organisations

Re-accreditation application - £970 commercial organisations and £257 not-for-profit organisations

  

Any questions?

Please do take time to look through the FAQs as we have tried to make sure all common threads are addressed as well as help clarify what each criterion is asking for. However, if you have any questions about the criteria or making application, please contact our Customer Services Team on 01455 883300 or email Penny.Thomas@bacp.co.uk

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer pre-assessment of any application.