Accreditation standard terms of business
These standard terms of business apply to provisions within the UK, which directly support autistic people and are seeking or holding a level awarded by Autism Accreditation from the National Autistic Society.
The term ‘Accreditation’ applies to the Autism Accreditation department of the National Autistic Society and those employed or contracted to work for this department.
The term ‘provision’ applies to the support service, services or settings described in the assessment/inclusion plan.
The term ‘organisation’ applies to the organisation directly responsible for the supervision of this provision. It is acknowledged that in some situations the provision and the organisation can be one and the same.
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The assessment/inclusion plan outlines the work that Accreditation considers necessary to assess a provision together with associated costs. These costings remain valid for three months after submission of the proposal. Once the assessment/inclusion plan is agreed, the cost of the basic assessment is fixed until the assessment has been completed. The cost of optional extras (quality development sessions and extended assessment, if applicable) is fixed for a minimal period of 12 months after which Accreditation reserves the right to review quoted prices.In agreeing the assessment/inclusion plan, the provision confirms the accuracy of any information it has provided to inform the plan in order that the assessment/inclusion plan remains valid. During the pre-assessment period, the provision may wish to redefine the services due to be assessed. It is the responsibility of the provision to ensure that the information remains accurate during the pre-assessment period and that they notify Accreditation of any changes. Both parties must agree this in writing.
It is the responsibility of the provision to take reasonable steps to ensure that those who are entitled to complete the online surveys are made aware of it, and that they do not unduly influence how individuals respond.
The provision is responsible for notifying Accreditation of any safeguarding concerns or adverse media attention, which could be considered relevant to awarding accredited status.
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The provision should book the dates of their assessment with a minimum six months’ notice. Subject to the terms of cancellation below, there will be no reimbursement of fees paid should the provision cancel an assessment date.The Accreditation Awards Committee considers the assessment report. Provisions can appeal against the Committee decision to an independent Awards and Commendation Panel. The Panel decision is final and no further discussion will be entered into on the matter.
Following completion of the assessment plan, a new assessment plan will be agreed with the provision. Accreditation recommends that the provision undergo a further assessment at least every three years in order to maintain the creditability of accredited status and to show progression.
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On registration, the provision becomes responsible for the payment of fees stated in the assessment/inclusion plan. The provision is invoiced as applicable. We accept electronic payment via bank transfers and/or credit card payments by phone, please contact Accreditation for details CustomerRelationsEnquiries@nas.org.uk. Our standard payment terms are 30 days from the date of the invoice.Necessary travel and accommodation costs will be charged in addition, for any provision offshore mainland United Kingdom or where travel expenses are exceptional.
The right is reserved to charge interest at the rate chargeable under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 in respect of late payments of invoices. Non-payment of invoices within 90 days of the due date will be deemed a cancellation of the agreement by the provision and the cancellation terms below will apply.
Accreditation is committed to resolving any invoice queries as soon as possible. The provision should raise any query in writing with CustomerRelationsEnquiries@nas.org.uk within 30 days of the date of the fee note. We reserve the right to take legal action to recover outstanding debts, including statutory interest.
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As stated above, the provision must book the date of their assessment at least six months in advance, no reimbursement of fees paid will normally be made, any unpaid invoice would be recovered as a debt, and the provision would need to book a new date for assessment and pay a further assessment fee should it wish to proceed with the programme.Should the provision wish to postpone an assessment visit by giving at least 28 days’ notice prior to the agreed assessment date, and (at Accreditation’s sole discretion) the reason is deemed to be outside the provision’s reasonable control, the assessment may be postponed rather than cancelled.
If a provision cancels or postpones an Accreditation visit, they are at risk of forfeiting said visit should it not be able to be rearranged. Accreditation reserves the right to reschedule any visit. In these cases, no additional fee will apply.
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Accreditation will carry out and complete an assessment/application in accordance with the Assessment/inclusion plan but reserves the right to terminate the agreement if a provision is acting unreasonably. Accreditation will declare an award null and void if achieved under false representation. Where there are safeguarding concerns present within a provision Accreditation may suspend or terminate the plan and award, depending on the circumstances. In such cases no reimbursement or cancellation of fees paid or payable will be made.Further details can be found within the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Statement.
If a provision wishes to terminate an assessment plan this should be done so in writing to the allocated adviser and to CustomerRelationsEnquiries@nas.org.uk.
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If a provision is dissatisfied with the work of Accreditation, it should contact the senior management of Accreditation to seek resolution. If the provision is not happy with the response from the senior management of Accreditation, please refer to the NAS Complaints, Comments and Compliments Policy and related guidelines.
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As part of The National Autistic Society, Accreditation is committed to protecting your privacy. Accreditation will only contact you about information relevant to Accreditation. Please see additional guidelines or refer to our please refer to the National Autistic Society’s Data Protection Policy.
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Accreditation reserves the right to vary these terms by giving not less than twenty-eight (28) days’ notice. Any provision may terminate its involvement with the programme within that notice period should it wish to do so, without any further financial payment (but for the avoidance of doubt, without any reimbursement of fees paid or payable as at the date of withdrawal from the programme). In the absence of any termination by a provision within twenty-eight days of receipt of the notice to vary, the provision will be deemed to have accepted the revised terms.
Licensed use of autism accreditation trademark terms and conditions
BETWEEN
- The National Autistic Society a company limited by guarantee registered in England (number 01205298) and a charity registered in England & Wales (CR269425) and in Scotland (SC039427) of 2nd Floor Weston House 42 Curtain Road London EC2A 3NH (“NAS”)
- Named provision (“Licensee”)
WHEREAS
- NAS is the beneficial owner of the intellectual property rights in materials relating to an autism specific management programme known as Autism Accreditation (“the Materials”)
- NAS is also the beneficial owner of the registered trademark portraying the name and logo of Autism Accreditation as shown in the Client Guidelines (Ref.3372) to this Agreement (“the Mark”) and wishes to maintain the integrity of the Mark
- The Licensee has participated in the Autism Accreditation programme using the Materials and has after assessment or application, whichever applicable, achieved the standards required to be awarded the relevant status under that programme in that year, for that provision
- The Licensee wishes to use and NAS has agreed to permit the Licensee to use the Mark on the terms set out in the Client Guidelines (Ref.3372) and to continue to use the Materials in order to assist in the maintenance of the relevant status
IT IS AGREED as follows:
- NAS hereby grants to the Licensee with effect from the Committee Date a non-exclusive licence to use the Mark for the purpose of demonstrating on its official letterhead (and other promotional materials with the prior written consent of the (Autism Accreditation Manager) that it has successfully achieved the awarded status
- The Licensee will not do anything which conflicts with the objects or policies of NAS or Autism Accreditation or which might prejudice their reputation or goodwill or that of other participants in the programme
- Subject to clause 4 this Agreement shall continue until terminated by either party upon the giving of six months’ notice in writing
- This Agreement shall be terminable at any time without notice by NAS if:
- the Licensee fails to remedy any material breach on its part of this Agreement within thirty days of written notice by NAS or
- the Licensee ceases to be deemed by NAS in its absolute discretion as advised by the Autism Accreditation Manager to hold the awarded status
- Any notice or other document to be given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed duly given by email to CustomerRelationsEnquiries@nas.org.uk.
- This Agreement shall be governed and construed according to the laws of England
Business terms are subject to change; advanced notification given.