Section 09 · Working with Advocates
Getting verified
How the SEN Evidence Vault accreditation process works for advocates, what is required, and what accreditation means for families and for you.
After reading this article you can
- Understand the accreditation process and requirements
- Complete the verification steps
- Know what the Accredited Advocate badge means
Accreditation is SEN Evidence Vault's way of giving families confidence that the advocates they find in the directory have been reviewed and are genuine, active practitioners. It is not a qualification, it is a verified status indicating you have been assessed by the SENVault team.
What accreditation involves
The accreditation process has three steps:
Profile review
The SENVault team reviews your completed profile for clarity, completeness, and accuracy. Profiles that are vague, generic, or appear to overstate experience will be returned for revision before proceeding.
Identity and practice verification
You will be asked to provide:
- Proof of identity (passport or driving licence)
- Evidence of your advocacy practice, this may include references from families you have supported (with their consent), an organisation you work with, or any relevant training or qualifications you hold
- A short professional statement describing your approach and experience
Agreement to the code of conduct
All Accredited Advocates must agree to the SENVault Advocate Code of Conduct, which covers professional standards, communication expectations, and the requirement to maintain honesty with families about the limits of your knowledge.
How long it takes
Accreditation review typically takes 7–14 working days from submission of all required documents. You will receive a decision by message. If further information is needed, the team will contact you.
What accreditation gives you
- The Accredited Advocate badge on your profile
- Inclusion in directory search results (unverified advocates are not listed)
- Access to the full advocate-side features: case management, family Vault access, the rewards programme
Maintaining accredited status
Accreditation is reviewed annually. You will be asked to confirm that your practice details are still accurate and that you remain active. Advocates who are inactive for an extended period or against whom concerns have been raised may have their accreditation reviewed.
What to do next
- 1
Start your accreditation application
Go to Advocate Settings > Accreditation to begin the verification process.
- 2
Read about the advocate directory
The next article explains how your profile appears in the directory and how families will find you.
Next in this section
The advocate directory
How your advocate profile appears in the SEN Evidence Vault directory, how families find you, and how to optimise your visibility.
Related articles
What is an advocate
What SEND advocates do, the different types available through SEN Evidence Vault, and when working with an advocate can make a difference to your case.
Finding an advocate
How to search the SEN Evidence Vault advocate directory, what to look for in an advocate profile, and how to make initial contact.
Sending a support request
How to send a formal support request to an advocate through SEN Evidence Vault, what to include, and what happens next.
Open the app
Try this in SENVault
Find an advocate, grant vault access, and manage support requests.
Open SENVault