Apply to become an accredited statutory out-of-home care or adoption service provider

Direct evidence and compliance

If your agency is applying for full accreditation, it must demonstrate how it is complying with the standards through direct evidence of its service delivery practice. However, you should keep any indirect evidence such as policies and procedures current in case assessors require it during assessments.

Prior to assessment, your agency will need to prepare and submit an Evidence Index. The Evidence Index should detail the location of direct evidence which shows your agency’s compliance against each standard criteria. 

During the assessment, you’ll be asked to detail how your agency regularly reviews its practice, policies and procedures, updating these to reflect changes in best practice and law.

If non-compliance is identified during assessment, we’ll provide feedback outlining areas for improvement. It’s your agency’s responsibility to review feedback provided and to implement changes to practice, policies and procedures that demonstrate compliance with the standards.

When there is evidence of consistent and compliant practice and systems, the agency will be assessed as meeting the standards.

Applying for provisional accreditation

The NSW out-of-home care sector is working to support the transition of Aboriginal children and young people from non-Aboriginal agencies to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations that are accredited to provide statutory out-of-home care. This whole-of-sector project is critical in supporting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people. To support this important work the Office of the Children’s Guardian are prioritising applications for accreditation from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and Aboriginal Providers only, for at least the next 12 months. 
 
Expressions of interest in applying for accreditation from non-Aboriginal organisations will be placed on a waiting list and we will contact you when we are in a position to assess your application. We are receiving a high volume of applications for accreditation and there may be delays in assessing applications from new providers seeking provisional accreditation. 
 
Organisations wishing to provide statutory out-of-home care must be accredited by the Children’s Guardian, however accreditation does not guarantee that an agency will receive funding to deliver out-of-home care services. Decisions regarding the commissioning of out-of-home care services in NSW are made by the Department of Communities and Justice.
 
Expressions of interest in applying for accreditation from Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations or Aboriginal Providers should be made through the Accreditation and Monitoring team by emailing accreditation@ocg.nsw.gov.au or calling (02) 8219 3796. 
 
The accreditation process requires significant commitment, both in time and resources. Before deciding to apply for provisional accreditation, you should first make sure you have a full understanding of the accreditation process and requirements to comply with the NSW Child Safe Standards for Permanent Care.

The Accreditation Self-Assessment Tool provides a guide for assessing your agency’s policies, procedures and practices against the NSW Child Safe Standards for Permanent Care, including identifying areas that will need significant improvement.