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Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy

Policy

DOCUMENT DETAILS

Document Owner Human Resource Services
Approval Date 3 December 2020
Release Date 2 March 2021
Compliance Date 2 March 2021
Review Date 1 March 2024

introduction and context

INTRODUCTION

Education Policy in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) is developed to support the implementation of consistent and comprehensive practices to guide quality Catholic learning and teaching in systemic schools in the Diocese of Wollongong.

Education Policy is developed within the context of documents and frameworks. These include:

CONTEXT

In the 2007 pastoral letter, Catholic Schools at a Crossroads, the Bishops of NSW and the ACT acknowledged the changing educational and cultural context of the 21st century and challenged all Catholic educational leaders, staff, parents and the broader Catholic community to recommit to Catholic schooling.

Catholic Schools at a Crossroads mandates that all involved in Catholic education strive to ensure that our schools: are truly Catholic in their identity and life; are centres of the 'new evangelisation'; enable our students to achieve high levels of Catholic religious literacy; and are led and staffed by people who will contribute to these goals.

This Policy relates specifically to the preparation and ongoing professional learning of staff in Religious Education and spiritual formation in Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong.  It has been developed to support school staff to meet their compliance obligations according to Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW), and the 2007 Pastoral Letter of the Catholic Bishops of NSW and ACT Catholic Schools at a Crossroads.

EXPECTATIONS

The Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy applies to staff who are seeking accreditation to work, teach or lead and to those staff who are maintaining their accreditation.

It is expected that Principals and school staff will take all reasonable measures to comply with this Policy.

The Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy must be implemented in conjunction with the following policies where relevant:

responsibilities of the Catholic Education office:

Human Resource Services in collaboration with Catholic Life, Education and Mission Services:

1   STAFF SEEKING ACCREDITATION TO WORK, TEACH AND LEAD

SCHOOLS MUST:
1.1 provide all staff with the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead: Levels of Accreditation
1.2 support staff in their attainment of accreditation
     
PRINCIPALS MUST:
1.3 ensure that the recruitment and appointment of staff for administration, teaching or leadership positions is undertaken according to the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead: Levels of Accreditation
1.4 ascertain the accreditation level and accreditation status of each staff member prior to employment
1.5 adhere to the CEDoW Provisional Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Level D Procedure, prior to making an offer of employment to teachers of Religious Education:
  1.5.1 who are Catholic and have not yet met the minimum employment requirements relevant to the role
  1.5.2 who are from other Christian faith traditions
1.6 regularly advise staff of their responsibilities in relation to the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead: Levels of Accreditation
       
STAFF MUST:
1.7 demonstrate they meet the minimum accreditation requirements for the role undertaken or complete the requirements within five (5) years of the appointment to the role
1.8

advise of changes to their accreditation level and provide certified documentation to CEDoW Human Resource Services using wtlaccreditation@dow.catholic.edu.au
1.9 adhere to the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Review Procedure  to appeal decisions related to the level of accreditation
     

2   STAFF MAINTAINING CURRENCY TO WORK, TEACH AND LEAD

SCHOOLS MUST:
2.1 provide all staff with the maintenance requirements according to the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead: Maintenance of Accreditation
2.2 provide opportunities for staff to work towards the required maintenance requirements for professional development and formation
2.3 encourage and support staff to attend programs that support them to meet maintenance requirements
2.4 maintain records to demonstrate that each staff member has engaged in school-based formation on an annual basis
       
PRINCIPALS MUST:
2.5 confirm the current accreditation level and accreditation status of each staff member on an annual basis using the school Work, Teach and Lead Accreditation Report
2.6 advise staff annually of their responsibilities in relation to maintenance requirements according to the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead: Maintenance of Accreditation
     
STAFF MUST:
2.7 assume responsibility for maintenance requirements at the current level of employment according to the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead: Maintenance of Accreditation
2.8 maintain records of ongoing professional development and formation in order to demonstrate they meet maintenance requirements
2.9 fulfil maintenance requirements according to the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead: Maintenance of Accreditation on a pro rata basis when working in a part-time capacity
       

Implementation

ACCREDITATION to Work, Teach and Lead POLICY IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

POLICY RELEASE

  • The CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy was released to Principals at the Principals’ Business Meetings in Term 1 2021.
  • The Policy has been reformatted into the interactive Policy mode of the Policy Directory.  The reformatting has included the formalising of Provisional accreditation arrangements and introduced a formal transparent review process through the introduction of two procedures.
  • The Policy was also provided to CEDoW Religious Education Coordinators at their Network Meeting in March 2021.

POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

  • Schools are expected to be meeting all requirements of the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy and Procedures.
  • Any school that determines they are able to implement all Expectations must contact the Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy
  • Schools’ compliance to the Policy expectations occurs through the Compliance processes conducted by the Catholic Education Office.
  • Additional Compliance processes may be utilised if there are concerns raised about the quality of Accreditation practices at the School, Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) or Bishop of Diocese of Wollongong levels.

POLICY MONITORING

  • Personnel in Leadership and Professional Growth Team (in collaboration with  Catholic Life, Education and Mission Services) are responsible for providing advice to the Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy of any changes to compliance requirements. These requirements include those that may be determined by CEDoW or the Bishop of Wollongong.
  • A formal evaluation process of the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy and Procedures will be conducted in March 2024.

POLICY PUBLICATION

  • The CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy and Procedures are published on the CEDoW website in the Policy Directory. The Senior Professional Officer: Education Policy will be responsible for ensuring the Policy’s version currency and accuracy.
  • Schools should contact the Senior Professional Officer:Education Policy for any clarifications regarding the CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy and Procedures
  • Schools should contact the Leadership and Professional Growth Team or Catholic Life, Education and Mission Services for support in the implementation of any aspects of the Policy.

LEGISLATION

N/A

RELATED LINKS

Catholic Schools at a Crossroads
https://www.csnsw.catholic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/catholic-schools-at-a-crossroads.pdf

Support Materials

POLICY SELF-ASSESSMENT

The CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy Self-Assessment is provided to support schools in their implementation of all Policy expectations. 
Download the Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Policy School Self-Assessment [Download as a Word doc, or complete the self-assessment in Google doc format by selecting 'Open with Google Docs' then going to File > Make a Copy] 

ACCreditation to Work, TEach and lead Framework

The CEDoW Accreditation to Work, Teach and Lead Framework provides additional detailed information to support staff in pathways that may be used when seeking and maintaining their accreditation to work, teach and lead. 


For further support in the implementation of this Policy please contact Leadership and Professional Growth Team via wtlaccreditation@dow.catholic.edu.au