Official Launch of the PDF Accreditation Programme

Anthony Gold is delighted to announce that our Court of Protection (COP) Partner Emma Tante and Director of the Professional Deputies Forum (PDF) has launched an accreditation programme for PDF, the official launch date was 7^th November 2024.

The programme was initiated by Emma Tante and David Wedgwood, who identified the advantages of a benchmarking scheme following stakeholder concerns over diverse skill levels in the sector.

With the introduction of an accreditation programme, professional deputies will, for the first time, have a way to evaluate their skills and knowledge, promoting higher standards and offering assurance to protected parties.

Emma conducted extensive research and presented a proposed plan and syllabus to the PDF. Since then, she has led the project, collaborating with a sub-group within the Forum and a variety of experts to refine the concept further. This group includes deputies, solicitors, barristers, as well as other key professionals like financial advisers, case managers, and medical specialists.

Other members of our firm provided invaluable support for the accreditation programme by assisting with the development of key modules. These include Victoria Rylatt, a Senior Associate in our Family Department, who created the family law module; Inbar Rabinovitz, a Senior Associate in our Employment Department, who worked on the employment law module; Alexandra Knipe, a Partner in our COP Department, who developed the International Court of Protection module; and David Wedgwood, a Partner in both our COP and Commercial Departments, who prepared the contentious probate module.

To identify areas for development, the Office of the Public Guardian and the Official Solicitor were also consulted.

“It’s important that we drive up standards for the greater good of the protected party and that we pass on a foundation of knowledge and experience to the next generation of lawyers moving into this growing area of practice,” said Emma.

“We hope to see lots of deputies signing up, and organisations supporting the accreditation scheme and encouraging their staff to participate.

“By fostering an environment of continuous learning and development, we can ensure that professional deputies are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to excel in their roles.”

Stacey Bryant, Chair of the PDF, said: “The Professional Deputies Forum is recognised as the leading organisation for deputies, and this accreditation programme plays a vital role in our collective mission to raise standards and provide the highest level of service to vulnerable clients and their families.

“Crucially, the programme will also provide valuable guidance and assurance to protected parties and their families, giving peace of mind that their best interests will always be taken care of. It’s about securing a future of excellence in our profession.”

The accreditation programme is open to all legal members of the PDF and is launching this autumn.

• Foundation Level – for people working at grades D to C, including paralegals.
• Intermediate Level – for people working at grades C to B.
• Advanced Level – for grade A deputies or trust corporation individuals (launching next year).

Each tier offers a range of modules, covering topics such as investments, benefits, wills, and managing individuals with disabilities or brain injuries. Each module is designed to be completed in under an hour, allowing for flexible scheduling.

The programme is open to all legal members of the PDF. For more information about the programme and fees, please visit https://www.deputiesforum.co.uk/.