As part of the process of managing support services, local authorities need to assure themselves that providers or potential providers of Supporting People services are suitable organisations. The CLG requires that organisations and individuals in receipt of Supporting People grant money are subject to an accreditation process which assures administering authorities of their fitness to provide housing-related support services under contract.
The accreditation process runs in parallel with the service review. Accreditation will be required for the steady state (i.e. the period following the service review) and is based on five requirements:
- Providers must be financially viable
- Providers must have competent administrative procedures
- Providers must have effective employment policies to cover staff development, health and safety etc.
- Providers must have robust management procedures
- Providers must be able to demonstrate that they are competent to deliver services
Accreditation criteria in South Gloucestershire is based on the 'certified local government' (CLG) criteria and reflect South Gloucestershire Council's view on the most important aspects of the accreditation process.
South Gloucestershire Supporting People, together with other administering local authorities in the south-west employs a system of passporting in order to simplify the process. However, every provider is required to submit proof of their financial viability and insurance.