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Accreditation (SPP)
Information below to register and login to the National Accreditation Scheme.
About the National Accreditation Scheme
The National Accreditation Scheme (NAS) is an industry based certification process for Community Legal Centres (CLCs) that supports and recognises good practice in the delivery of community legal services.
The NAS provides a quality assurance process that gives CLCs, funding bodies and clients confidence that CLCs are operating according to good practice and industry standards. The NAS promotes a culture of on-going continuous quality improvement.
Phase 1 of the NAS 2011 – 2015
The NAS was launched in 2010 as a joint initiative between NACLC and state and territory CLC associations, with the first CLCs being accredited in 2013. The first ‘phase’ of the NAS was completed in 2015 with all CLCs going through the accreditation process.
Towards the end of 2014, NACLC engaged Hecate Consulting to undertake a review of the NAS. The Report of the Review of the National Accreditation Scheme (the NAS Review Report) found that the CLC sector, and government funding bodies, were broadly supportive of the NAS. The NAS Review Report made recommendations to improve the NAS in relation to accessibility standards, governance, national consistency, and streamlining or simplifying the process and assessment tools. In 2015 a NAS Steering Committee was established, consisting of representatives from NACLC and each state and territory CLC association. The NAS Steering Committee oversaw extensive consultation on changes to the NAS for Phase 2. Revised Standards and new NAS Guidelines were finalised in February 2016.
Phase 2 of the NAS 2016 – 2019
- the NAS Standards
The NAS Standards are available to CLCs on the NACLC Members’ Page of the NACLC website. The NAS Standards incorporate the old Community Legal Services Program Service (CLSP) Standards, the requirements of the NACLC Risk Management Guide (RMG), and new accessibility requirements developed during consultations in 2015.
- the NAS Guidelines
The NAS Guidelines are the internal guidelines which govern the operation of the NAS. The NAS Guidelines are confidential to CLCs and State/Territory CLC Associations. They are available to CLCs on the NACLC Members’ Page of the NACLC website.
- the accreditation process
CLCs which are full members of their State and Territory CLC Association are required to participate in the NAS. Any new full member CLC will be referred to either NACLC (for CLCs in South Australia, NT, Tasmania or the ACT) or their State CLC Association for assessment for Certification and Accreditation.
The accreditation process involves the following steps:
- Online self-assessment:
CLCs have access to an online self-assessment system, the Standards and Performance Pathways (SPP), through which CLCs can assess their organisation against the NAS Standards. The SPP ‘Reading Room’ provides templates policies and procedures which CLCs can adapt to fit their organisation.
In addition to the NAS Standards, the SPP includes the quality management requirements of a number of other Government funding agencies which apply to the community sector and other common quality standards. This means that as a CLC addresses the NAS Standards, the assessment tool automatically also addresses these other standards, reducing the time and effort required for monitoring and reporting on standards compliance for a CLCs funded under multiple programs.
- Site visit by accreditation reviewer:
NACLC and some State CLC Associations employ Accreditation Coordinators, specialist reviewers who work with each CLC to review the results of their self-assessment and subsequently conduct a site visit. The Accreditation Coordinator considers other relevant documentation, assesses how policies and procedures are applied in practice and meets with CLC governing body members, staff and volunteers.
- Report and recommendation:
Accreditation Coordinators provide a report on their findings and assist CLCs to develop an Improvement Plan to improve compliance with and performance against the NAS Standards. The accreditation coordinator provides the report and recommendation for accreditation to the Certifier to decide on certification.
Certification under the NAS
CLCs which are successful are awarded Certification and a Licence to use the NACLC Certification Trade Mark (CTN) for 3 years. A CLC that has been assessed and certified is entitled and encouraged to prominently display the NACLC CTN (shown here) and can use the NACLC CTN on all their publications and relevant materials.
The CLC is required to provide 6 monthly reports against their Improvement Plan during the certification period.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Phase 2 of the NAS has a greater emphasis on moving from compliance with the NAS Standards, to continuous quality improvement.
The NAS encourages CLCs to:
- reflect on practices to identify opportunities for improvement;
- address specific issues as they arise and consider ways to reduce the likelihood (and/or severity) of recurrence;
- streamline/strengthen systems to enhance outcomes for clients and the community;
- establish effective management systems that are routinely reviewed and revised as required;
- recognise and acknowledge their strengths and achievements;
- support exploration of new approaches, share experience and examples of good practice with other CLCs; and,
- build sector credibility, support funding efforts and encourage collaboration.
Need assistance or further information
Please contact the Accreditation Coordinator for your state or territory:
ACT, Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania: |
NSW: |
Queensland: |
Victoria: |
Western Australia: Sharryn Jackson, Regional Accreditation Coordinator, Community Legal Centres Association (WA) Inc. |
How do we start?
To get underway simply:
Register: You can set up your organisation’s online access at any time – click on the ‘Register’ link above
Start your self-assessment: Once you have your online access, you can get under way on the SPP – click on the ‘Log in’ link above.