The table below sets out some important features of services that might be ready for this process.
Feature |
Why? |
Have been up and running for at least a year |
The initial ‘bedding-in’ process will have finished and the service will be best prepared to undertake Leading Light status. |
Have at least three full-time IDVAs (working as a team) |
The IDVA service is best delivered as part of a team in order to provide consistency for clients and support for the IDVA. In addition, the pilots felt that establishing new processes and systems within the service, as well as preparing the necessary evidence for assessment would be too onerous a task for smaller services. |
Have had some or all of their IDVAs CAADA- trained |
CAADA training establishes a common understanding of the end goals of an IDVA service and a common language of accreditation between service staff and the accreditation team. |
A committed manager with sufficient time to dedicate to the accreditation process |
We anticipate that work related to the Leading Lights programme should take around eight weeks to complete, but not all of the work of preparing for accreditation needs to be done by the manager. |
Have a board or management committee that is committed to the Leading Lights process |
This is crucial to the smooth running of the programme because managers will need to be supported to make any changes that are necessary. |
Systematically risk assess all referrals to the service |
This is essential, since the criteria are designed for services focusing on work with high or very high risk clients. |
Attend and participate in a local MARAC (or are involved in the process of establishing a MARAC in their area) |
Participation in a MARAC shows that higher risk cases are prioritised and is a good indicator that Leading Lights would be appropriate for your service. |
Regularly collect data |
Regular collection of data provides a firm evidence base for reviewing practice. |
Services that do not meet all these specifications may still feel that they are ready for accreditation as a CAADA Leading Light. If so, we will need you to tell us why you think you are suitable for accreditation despite not having the features noted above.
What about services with less than three IDVAs?
CAADA recognises there are many models of service provision within the sector and that the Leading Light programme is not suitable for everyone. The feedback that we have had from all quarters has been that IDVAs need to work as a team if the service that they offer is to be sustainable both for clients and for them as professionals. The Leading Lights programme aims to encourage adequate IDVA provision in terms of capacity and to underpin a sustainable response.
For these reasons, we have decided to concentrate resources in 2009-10 on supporting larger services initially. We plan to review our support for a wider range of services once Leading Lights is more firmly established. We do hugely value the work carried out to support victims right across the spectrum of services in the sector and will be looking at the appropriateness of CAADA’s work with a wider range of models in 2010-11. |
