Donate

Leading Lights accreditation process

Information on the Leading Lights accreditation process including how the process works, eligibility, key criteria and standards, costs, and how to apply

This page provides information on the Leading Lights accreditation process including how the process works, eligibility, key criteria and standards, costs, FAQs, and how to apply.

There are also a number of downloadable resources relating to the accreditation process including key criteria and standards, the complaints policy, and frequently asked questions about Leading Lights.

How the Leading Lights accreditation process works

SafeLives will support services to reach accreditation via:

  • SafeLives accredited training for Service Managers – the first course of its kind in the UK, developed by experts in the field. This course will teach you how to run a good quality service and how to meet the Leading Lights key criteria. If you have a SafeLives qualified Service Manager already, you will not be required to put anyone on the course to obtain Leading Lights accreditation. 
  • The provision of free, practical resources that support service development for meeting the Leading Lights standards.
  • A free, self assessment toolkit that allows service managers to lead their own service towards accreditation. (We ask that service managers submit their application for service accreditation within a year of attending the service manager training.)
  • An independent assessment visit from SafeLives and an externally accredited assessment process, leading to a 3 year accreditation.
  • On-going support after accreditation has been achieved.

 

Leading Lights accreditation eligibility

You can apply for Leading Lights if you meet all of the following criteria.

Your service:

  • Has been up and running for at least a year.
  • Has a committed manager with sufficient time to dedicate to the accreditation process.
  • Has a SafeLives qualified Service Manager or have a manager willing to undertake this training with sufficient time to dedicate to it.
  • Has a lead working at governance or strategic level who is committed to the Leading Lights programme.

Key criteria and set of standards

The Leading Lights standards are designed to provide detailed guidance towards meeting the Leading Lights quality assurance accreditation for domestic abuse service provision.

The standards are split into four main sections:

  • Service provision.
  • Multi-agency working.
  • Human resources.
  • Governance.

Together, these four standards represent practice that is effective, sustainable and – above all – safe.

View Leading Lights key criteria and standards

Leading Lights accreditation costs

The standard cost for Leading Lights accreditation is £3,000 for services with up to 10 frontline staff. For every additional 10 staff a further assessment day is required and is charged at an additional £500.

We also offer the below subsidies:

  • Organisations with an annual income of under £500,000: £1,500 (50% subsidy)
  • Organisations with an annual income of between £500,000 and £1million: £2,000 (33% subsidy)

Training only

If you are not able to commit to the Leading Lights programme but wish to learn how to make your service more effective and sustainable you can still apply for SafeLives’ accredited training for Service Managers

How to apply for Leading Lights accreditation

Please complete the below form to register your interest for Leading Lights accreditation for your service, and the team will be in contact with more information:

Click here to register your interest

If you know you would like to go ahead with the accreditation and want to book this in, please complete the application form:

Click here to submit your application

If you would like to know more general information on the Leading Lights process, please refer to the FAQ document below or email the Leading Lights Team:

Email the Leading Lights Team

Further resources about the Leading Lights accreditation process

You may also be interested in

Accredited Leading Lights services

There are more than 50 accredited Leading Lights services throughout Great Britain. This resource details each accredited service by geographic region
A woman teaching a class, holding a whiteboard marker and a piece of highlighted paper.

Domestic abuse training for service managers

SafeLives’ training for service managers aims to improve the effectiveness of domestic abuse services by providing advice and guidance on their operational and strategic management approach.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to receive our monthly newsletters about the latest training, events, research and fundraising initiatives at SafeLives. Together, we can end domestic abuse, for everyone, for good.

Sign up