The ACC accreditation framework

Independent Accreditation for UK Care Consultants

Care consultancy is not a regulated profession. Anyone may describe themselves as a care consultant, and providers are often left assessing credibility from a website and a conversation. ACC accreditation exists to put an independent, evidenced check between that claim and the provider relying on it.

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Accredited Care Consultants accreditation seal

What ACC accreditation means — and what it does not

We are deliberately precise about the scope of accreditation, because a mark that promises more than it delivers is of no use to a provider.

What it means

The consultant's identity and right to work have been checked.
Their professional history and consultancy experience have been reviewed.
Supporting documentation, including insurance, has been examined.
DBS certification has been evidenced where the work makes it appropriate.
Competence has been assessed against the specialisms they advertise.
They have agreed to, and remain bound by, the ACC Code of Conduct.
Their status can be checked publicly at any time, and can be withdrawn.

What it does not mean

ACC is not a regulator and has no statutory powers.
Accreditation has no legal standing and confers no licence to practise.
It is not a substitute for a provider's own due diligence or contracting.
It does not imply competence in every area of social care — only in the specialisms assessed.
It is not a guarantee of the outcome of any particular engagement.
It does not make ACC a party to the contract between provider and consultant.
It does not extend to the regulatory judgements made by the CQC, Care Inspectorate, CIW or RQIA.

Independent accreditation is not statutory regulation

Statutory regulation is created by law, applies whether or not an organisation agrees to it, and is backed by enforcement powers — as with the Care Quality Commission's regulation of registered providers in England. Accreditation is voluntary. A consultant asks to be assessed, agrees to be held to a published framework, and can have that status withdrawn. ACC does not register, license or inspect care services, and does not speak for any regulator.

The ACC Accreditation Framework

Five stages, applied to every applicant in the same order.

Stage 01

Application

The consultant completes a structured application. At this stage we are establishing who the applicant is and the basis of the expertise they intend to advertise.

Identity of the applicant and the business they trade as
Professional history, including a five-year account of relevant work
Consultancy experience, including the type and scale of engagements undertaken
Qualifications relevant to the work being offered
Declared specialisms and the service types they wish to appear under
Professional references or client testimonials, where required for the specialisms claimed

Stage 02

Verification

We review supporting documentation submitted through the consultant's secure member area. Documents are held privately and are never published on the register.

Photographic identity evidence
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
DBS certification, where the nature of the work makes it appropriate
Qualification certificates relevant to declared specialisms
Business and professional information, such as trading details and memberships

Stage 03

Professional assessment

We assess the applicant's competence against the specific specialisms they wish to advertise, rather than against social care as a whole.

Depth and recency of experience in each declared specialism
Evidence that outcomes described can be substantiated
Whether the specialism is supported by qualifications, where the work requires them
The applicant's own account of the limits of their expertise

Accreditation is granted for the specialisms assessed. It should not be read as implying competence across every area of social care, and consultants are expected to decline work that falls outside the specialisms on their profile.

Stage 04

Approval

Where the standard is met, accreditation is granted and the consultant's listing becomes publicly visible.

ACC accredited status against the assessed specialisms
A unique accreditation number and a public verification page
A profile on the public consultant directory
Permission to display the ACC accreditation seal while accreditation remains current

Stage 05

Ongoing standards

Accreditation is a continuing commitment rather than a one-off assessment. Accredited consultants remain accountable to the standards throughout their membership.

Annual renewal, with insurance and DBS evidence re-confirmed as applicable
Prompt notification of any change in circumstances affecting suitability
Cooperation with any complaint raised about work carried out
Continued adherence to the ACC Code of Conduct
Evidence of continued competence in the specialisms advertised
Spot checks of documentation, where we consider them warranted

Who can apply?

Accreditation is open to independent consultants and consultancy firms working with care providers in the United Kingdom. Applicants are expected to be actively practising, to hold appropriate insurance, and to have verifiable experience in the specialisms they intend to advertise.

We do not accredit applicants whose experience cannot be evidenced, whose insurance is not in place, or who are unwilling to agree to the Code of Conduct. Newly established consultancies may apply where the individuals behind them hold the relevant sector experience.

What evidence is required?

Photographic identification and confirmation of the right to work in the UK
A five-year professional history, with any gaps explained
Professional references covering recent care sector work
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
DBS certification where the nature of the engagement makes it appropriate
Qualification certificates relevant to the declared specialisms
A completed accreditation application, including declarations and signature

Documents are uploaded through the secure member area and are visible only to ACC. Certificate numbers, addresses and uploaded files are never shown on the public register.

How long does accreditation take?

Most applications are concluded within two to four weeks of a complete submission. The single largest cause of delay is incomplete evidence — missing insurance certificates, unexplained gaps in history, or references that have not yet responded.

We will tell you what is outstanding rather than leaving an application dormant, and you can track progress in your member area at any time.

What happens if I don't meet the standard?

Where the standard is not met, we set out in writing which part of the framework was not satisfied and what would need to change. In many cases this is a matter of evidence rather than capability, and the application can be resumed once the missing material is supplied.

Where a specialism cannot be supported by the evidence provided, we may accredit the consultant for a narrower range of specialisms rather than declining the application outright. Membership fees are not charged for a period in which accreditation has not been granted.

Renewal

Accreditation is reviewed annually. Ahead of the renewal date we ask consultants to confirm that their circumstances are unchanged and to re-evidence insurance and, where applicable, DBS certification.

A consultant whose renewal is due within the next 30 days shows as Renewal Pending on their public verification page. Where renewal is not completed, accreditation lapses and the status changes to Expired.

Suspension and removal

Accreditation may be suspended where a serious concern is raised and remains under review, where insurance has lapsed, or where a consultant has not responded to a reasonable request for information.

Accreditation may be withdrawn where the Code of Conduct has been breached, where information given to ACC was materially inaccurate, or where a consultant has advertised competence they do not hold. A suspended or withdrawn accreditation is reflected immediately on the public verification page and the listing is removed from the directory.

Appeals

A consultant may appeal a decision to decline, suspend or withdraw accreditation by writing to us within 28 days of the decision, setting out the grounds and providing any further evidence.

Appeals are considered by someone who was not involved in the original decision. We aim to respond within 21 days. Accreditation status remains unchanged while an appeal is being considered.

Complaints

Providers and consultants can raise a complaint about an accredited consultant, or about ACC itself. We acknowledge complaints promptly and tell both parties what we intend to do.

We can review conduct against our Code of Conduct and act on a consultant's accreditation. We cannot award compensation, resolve contractual disputes, or intervene in matters that are properly for a regulator, an insurer or the courts.

Read our complaints process

Code of Conduct

Every accredited consultant agrees to the ACC Code of Conduct. It covers honesty about likely outcomes, working within declared competence, confidentiality, safeguarding responsibilities, clear written terms and fair dealing with providers.

The Code is the basis on which conduct concerns are assessed, and continued agreement to it is a condition of remaining accredited.

Read the Code of Conduct

Frequently asked questions

Is ACC a regulator?+

No. ACC is an independent accreditation body. We assess consultants against our own published framework and can grant, suspend or withdraw ACC accreditation. We have no statutory powers, and accreditation carries no legal standing.

How is accreditation different from statutory regulation?+

Statutory regulation is established in law, applies whether or not an organisation consents, and carries enforcement powers. In England, for example, the Care Quality Commission regulates care providers. Care consultancy itself is not a regulated profession, so no statutory body assesses consultants. Accreditation is voluntary: a consultant chooses to be assessed and to remain accountable to our framework.

Does accreditation guarantee the quality of a piece of work?+

No. Accreditation confirms that we have checked identity, history, insurance, suitability and evidence of competence in the specialisms advertised. It is not a warranty of any particular engagement or outcome, and providers should still agree clear written terms with any consultant they instruct.

Does accreditation mean a consultant is competent in every area of social care?+

No, and it is not intended to. Accreditation is granted against assessed specialisms. Those specialisms are shown on the consultant's profile and on their public verification page.

Can a provider check a consultant's accreditation independently?+

Yes. Every accredited consultant has a public verification page showing their status, accreditation number, approved specialisms, accredited-since date and renewal date.

Is a DBS check required for every consultant?+

Not in every case. We require DBS certification where the nature of the work makes it appropriate — for example, where a consultant will be present in services or have contact with people receiving care. Where DBS has been evidenced, it is shown as checked on the consultant's profile.

What does accreditation cost?+

Accreditation is assessed as part of consultant membership. Current pricing is shown on the pricing page, and no membership fee applies for a period in which accreditation has not been granted.

How do I start?+

Create a consultant account, complete the accreditation application in your member area, and upload your supporting documents. We will tell you what remains outstanding before assessment begins.

Independently accredited. Openly verifiable.

Apply to be assessed against the framework, or read the standards in full before you start.

Apply for accreditation Accreditation standards