CiLCA Support Programme

Our CiLCA Support Programme guides you through your Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) – a portfolio based, level 3, foundation qualification designed specifically for local council officers.

Our CiLCA Support Programme guides you through the portfolio with training sessions and ongoing mentoring to help you complete the qualification.

Why do CiLCA?

CiLCA helps officers to become more aware of the law and procedures for local councils.  It checks that officers can manage the councils activities, its finances and community engagement.  CiLCA can help your council achieve standards of good practice and builds the reputation of local councils in a fast changing world. The biggest thing we hear from clerks who have completed their CiLCA is how much more confident they feel in their role having undertaken the learning and gained the qualification. You can read more about the qualification here.

Who can take CiLCA?

Any officer can take CiLCA to learn more about how local councils work.  They should have at least a year’s experience and have undertaken basic knowledge training before starting. We highly recommend that anyone tackling CiLCA attend training to assist them with compiling a portfolio.

How long does it take?

It might take between six months and a year to complete CiLCA.  On average, you might complete one task each week.  There are 30 tasks in total. It is a labour intensive course, and anyone who is attempting CiLCA will need to consider if they have the time available to complete the work.

What is the DALC CiLCA Support Programme?

Our CiLCA Support Programme has been designed to offer the best possible support to students undertaking the qualification. Through our CiLCA Recognised Trainers we can support you with:

• Training. 7 courses (one month apart) which take you through each step of the portfolio, building your confidence through exercises and discussion.  You will leave each session knowing how to approach each learning outcome, signposted to useful resources, and knowing the pitfalls to avoid.
• Mentoring. 12 months of mentoring support; offered either one-to-one or in our monthly online drop ins, to help you overcome any barriers standing in your way. We can review some submissions, consider assessor feedback or simply guide you on how to structure your submissions to help you achieve success.

Our CiLCA Support Programme is excellent value at just £300 + VAT per student, exclusive of the registration fee (currently £450) which you will need to pay to the SLCC to complete CiLCA.

To access our CiLCA Support Programme, please contact us for more information. Please note that booking on to the course can take a little while so leave plenty of time before you want to get started to facilitate the process and ensure you get a spot!

Why undertake CiLCA?

What are the benefits of CiLCA? Hear from our past students!

• “The knowledge I acquired and, in particular, finding out what I didn’t know and when I need to check things or seek advice has given me far more confidence in my work and I find I am enjoying it all so much more.”
• “I found undertaking CiLCA this last year, invaluable in helping me to learn everything I needed to know in my role as the new Parish Clerk”
• “What is great about CiLCA, it covered a very wide range of topics, everything that a clerk would need to know to support their council.”
• “The CiLCA qualification has been extremely worthwhile but challenging for me.”
• “The CiLCA qualification portfolio provides an excellent foundation for the parish clerk role and I feel much more confident having completed it.”
• “Even though everyone says it, taking CiLCA really does boost your confidence and I would thoroughly recommend it”
• “Taking part in the qualification has given me a greater understanding of my role and the confidence to support the Council and wider community.”
• “CiLCA has been a very worth while experience it highlighted gaps in my knowledge as well as in the council”
• “Whether it takes you one month or more than a year, it’s a great feeling when you pass the CILCA!”

Why choose DALC for CiLCA training?

Hear from our CiLCA students about why you should choose DALC for your CiLCA.

• “I couldn’t have done it without DALC’s support, for which I am truly grateful.” 
• “Great mentoring from DALC’s CiLCA trainer, who also doubled up as our personal therapist :)” 
• “The support from DALC was invaluable, and I would recommend their mentoring service to anyone thinking of starting CiLCA.” 
• “The DALC CiLCA support programme has been brilliant.” 
• “The DALC CiLCA support programme was invaluable; the trainer was very knowledgeable and approachable and the monthly tutorials and mentoring sessions were a great opportunity to meet (virtually) and work with others undertaking the qualification”
• “Without support from DALC it would not have been possible.”
• “I must say that I couldn’t have done it without DALC.”
• “The assistance and advice I also received from DALC, was very much appreciated and all queries, big or small, are always answered and there’s never an issue.”
• “Whilst undertaking the CiLCA qualification I found the group sessions invaluable in helping to “set the scene”.  The course covers a wide range of local government matters and being led through each module in a pragmatic and focussed approach was hugely helpful. In addition, the back-up support was invaluable for the “niggles” along the way, with DALC officers offering ongoing support with speedy responses to any issues raised. The support was hugely important and great value for money too! I would recommend anyone undertaking this qualification also sign up to this option.”
• “The training and support from DALC was invaluable and I would not have succeeded without them.”

If you’re interested, then get in touch with us to see how we can support you. If you have completed your CiLCA and are looking for another challenge, then why not look at the SLCC’s Community Governance qualifications?