Training for Clerks

The Essential Clerk

An introduction to the role and work of community and town councils.

Certificate in Local Council Administration (CiLCA) Wales

This has been developed by the National Training Advisory Group (NTAG) which is a partnership between the SLCC, One Voice Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

This reflects and complements the CiLCA qualification which has been available for English clerks for some time but more accurately reflects the needs and legislative changes demanded by Wales.

It is anticipated that over time this qualification will become the entry level benchmark for town and community council clerks in Wales and will enable both new and experienced clerks to deliver a better service to their employers and local communities.

The qualification is study based and you will be required to submit a finished portfolio for assessment before the qualification is awarded.

There are various ways of acquiring training in preparation for completing CiLCA and a recommended method is to complete the Working With Your Council (Wales) which is specifically designed to prepare clerks to take the qualification.

Copies of the portfolio guide are available in English and Welsh.

In order to apply to take the qualification applications should be submitted to the SLCC and on completion of the application form and payment of the fee (£150) applicants will have 2 years to complete and submit their applications. This will be passed to the SLCC who will manage the marking of portfolios and if successful issue the certificates.
Please make cheques payable to SLCC - CiLCA Management.

In the event of not passing one or more sections it will be necessary to re-submit with an appropriate fee to be re-marked.

Those SLCC members who would aspire to membership of the Institute of Local Council Management (ILCM) will find that CiLCA is one of the requirements of membership higher than student level.

It is hoped that most clerks in Wales will attempt to become CiLCA qualified and that it is important for the sector to maintain its ever increasing professionalism.

Clerks’ Training Bursary Scheme in Wales

The scheme has been introduced to encourage more clerks to undertake training. Your council does not have to be a member of either SLCC or OVW to qualify for the bursary – but the cost of the courses could reflect your membership status, i.e. the courses are likely to be discounted if you are a member.

However, to qualify for the bursary your council must have a turnover of under £25k and the bursary limit is 50% of the training cost, conference or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) event up to a maximum payment of £100. It is hoped that the “larger” councils will already have made provision for training in their budgets.

The funding is available to community & town council clerks and their administrative assistants. The applications must be signed by council chairman and clerk and they cannot be retrospective.

Bursary Application Form