The 2024 Standard Civil Contract ("the Contract") commenced on 1 September 2024. The Contract will run for a period of 12 months with two options to extend the Contract by a period of a further 12 months.
The following Guidance documents have been published on GOV.UK to support the implementation of the Contract:
- Procurement Area & Access Point Codes- Version 1.9 01/09/2024
- Guidance for reporting Controlled Work & Controlled Work matters (V.37)
- Civil Representation Guidance on Proceeding Codes: Proceedings Codes and Standard Wordings for post-April 2013 Certificates
- 2024 Cost Assessment Guidance (v1)
- Guidance on the remuneration of expert witnesses
- Family Mediation Guidance Manual
- Family Mediation Guidance for Reporting Work
- Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service Provider Guidance
- Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service Contract Report form
- Mental Health Guidance
In addition to this the following forms (and/or Checklist) have been updated on GOV.UK to refer to the 2024 Standard Civil Contract:
- CW1 and CW2- Legal Help and Controlled Legal Representation - Mental Health;
- CW3C- Graduated Fee Scheme - Application for extension of Disbursement Limit;
- CW5a Controlled Work Application for Prior Authority - Instruct King's Counsel, two Counsel or Disbursements;
- CWC (MH)- Mental Health Application for Prior Authority to incur enhanced rates for Counsel;
- Court assessed Claim 1a checklist- For use with CIV CLAIM1A; and
- Claim 2 checklist For use with CIV CLAIM2.
The new versions of these forms will be available to use from 1 September 2024, however providers will still be able to submit applications on the older versions of the forms up until 30th November 2024.
The Guidance for reporting on Controlled Work & Controlled Work matters has important information on interim measures that have been introduced in Education and Mental Health to bill certain work pending permanent changes to CWA:
- Education: Page 38 & 62 has information on how to claim interim disbursements in Education
- Mental Health: Page 133 confirms that CWA will still require providers to submit information on Designated Accredited Representatives (DARs) in Mental Health claims even though provisions on DARs have been removed from the contract. The information you submit will not be monitored by the LAA.
We will be looking to make permanent changes to CWA to address both these interim measures in due course.
