Professional Chartered Membership Programme

Using the following template, please demonstrate your competence in each of the sections. Refer to examples of your most recent achievements (last 3 years only). Middle East Experience

Use the CARL format: Construction Industry – Professional Experience / Task related to Senior Quantity Surveyor, Senior Cost Manager or Senior Cost Consultant

Purpose – Professional Chartered Membership Programme

“DO” The Competence Report

• Read the Professional Review

Guidance and Assessment Criteria

for Candidates before completing the report. Our experience shows that people that use the guidance have better chance of passing first time.

• Give 1 or 2 clear, specific and detailed examples of the competences from your own practice. Use first person and past tense.

Use the CARL format:

• Circumstance – Describe the circumstance you needed to act on.

• Action – Describe the action you took. Why did you choose this action?

• Result – Evaluate the result of your action/decision including the positives and negatives.

• Learning – Outline any learning you took from this experience.

• Include reflection and evaluation,

where you can, on practice giving indications of how you would do things differently. You can include the view of others, if it helps.

• Use all the space provided to its fullness to describe and evidence your competence. There is no word count and only what is written in the “visible” space of the box will be accepted. Font size 11 required.

• Keep self-evident comments like ‘Health and Safety is important to the organisation…’ or ‘Planning and organisation is crucial for the smooth running…’ brief. It is good to have an opener to a section but too much of this language starts to sound like generalisations. It is the personal examples we are looking for.

• Be honest about what you have achieved. The assessor is not looking for prestigious multi-million pound projects. They are looking for evidence of competence, the ability to understand the limits of one’s competence and responsibilities, the ability to make ethical decisions and the commitment to learn and develop.

• Do check for spelling and grammatical errors. The PR Team will send the report back if it is clear your report has not been proofread

“DO NOT” The Competence Report

• Don’t write ‘we do this at…’ or ‘we follow company…’. Too much of this suggests you are not working on your own initiative.

• Don’t list your job responsibilities or your job description.

• Don’t describe company policies e.g. at my company we do… The assessor wants to know about you and your practice. You may refer to policies that inform your practice.

• Don’t assume because you have worked on large projects or prestigious sites that this confirms competence. It does not.

• Don’t exaggerate or misrepresent your experience and responsibilities as you may be questioned about it.

• Don’t use bullet points. It suggests you cannot fill the boxes with 2 substantive examples.

• Don’t use company specific acronyms without mentioning the full title at some point in your report.

• Don’t provide additional documents, which we do not mention in this Guidance. They will not be included in the submission for assessment.

• Don’t send your documents in the paper format; they need to be provided to us electronically.

• Don’t send your application handwritten, this is a professional report and must be completed electronically.

EXAMPLE 1

Quality is determined by the specification and contract drawings. To manage quality of the project I firstly read the specification and look at the drawings so that I can devise a quality plan to ensure that the end product will be fit for purpose to the clients requirements.

Quality control is more a  toensure that the product is right first time to reduce the time rng these inspections and having and defects rectified

I also employ the services of the local authority building control who send out an inspector at certain intervals of the build process and signs the work off at each of the stages, e.g. dpc level, roof structure. This ensures that the build is built to current building regulations. I do this to ensure that the completed projects meets the specification and reduces client complaints as well as to improve the reliability of the work and products and reduce cost.

During the inspection I record the progress with photographic evidence and catalogue my findings on a quality control inspection form which is then filed and can be recalled at a later date if required. This is something that I have just implemented into my work as I had an issue on my last project where a defect occured and I could not prove who was at fault (quite an expensive learning curve).

I also ensure that any pipework installed is pressure tested prior to being filled as a leak can have serious consequences to the programme especially after being plastered. I also carry out checks for the correct tolerances to measurements and levels to ensure that they all comply with current regulations.

This could have bey providing a

For example, this is considered a

GENERALISED description.

Instead, use a SPECIFIC example

On the local school site I carried out inspection each day to ensure the quality is right first time. On one day, the list included several areas where I felt the quality of the work carried out could be better. I worked with the contractors to ensure the work was re-done. On this site the local authority Building Inspector also attended at various stages of the project. This ensured that all regulations were being followed. I discussed quality issues with the inspector which led to a better product. This saved cost and time in the long term.

EXAMPLE 2

On recent project where I was working as a Project Manager and Technical Advisor. The project was a school and I was responsible for monitoring progress and quality against programme and design. I

worked with the Clerk of Works to monitor the internal and external finishing. I ensured that issues were captured in the Clerk of Works report and are raised and recorded during the monthly meetings.

Anything of urgency was communicated by telephone and followed up with an email.

The Client, funder and end users were made aware of quality concerns and the contractor provided solutions to rectify the concerns quickly. One particular concern was associated with the aesthetics of the brickwork to the first 1.5m of the build.

As the building was located in a flood zone, the first 1m of the brickwork had to be flood resilient, requiring two different mortars. This created a strong delineation in colour within the brickwork. This

was picked up during one of the first progress meetings and was unacceptable to the client. I then discussed options to remedy the concerns including tinting, raking out and re-pointing with different

mix and doing nothing.

Thinking about the long-term implications of each option in terms of maintenance, cost and programme effects, we agreed that once the cladding was installed it may refocus attention away from

brickwork and with the clients agreement, this was agreed and reviewed after 4 months. After 4 months it was clear that once the external façade had been completed the mortar difference was no

longer as obvious and its impact on the appearance was minimised. No further work was required.

The co-operation of Client and the Contractor was achieved through regular updates and good communication. This built up a level trust between all parties. This trust element was important in ensuring a

quick fix reaction was avoided and a long term view was taken.

This is a real example although some details have been changed and removed.

following reasons:

This a better example for the following reasons;

Specific examples

Written in past tense – what has happened not what might be done

Written with CARL format in mind

Reflection and evaluation included

This is considered a SOLID description see marking descriptor.

Occupational Competence

1. PLANNING AND ORGANISING WORK

Report – You must provide workplace evidence of how well you plan, programme, organise and monitor your work activities, systems and methods, based on specific projects or tasks.

Your response must include specific evidence of how well you identified and set objectives, how you measured performance against the set objectives, how well you managed the team to work collaboratively and identified skills required to benefit the project.

Table of competencies –  This section is about how you have:

a) Planned, organised and monitored work activities and methods

b) Set objectives and measured performance

c) Built team relations to carry out the work planned including identifying training needs within the team

Think about an example(s) of when you have managed a team to meet the organisational or project objectives.

If you do not manage a team, think about an example(s) of when you have managed your own work activities to meet organisational or project objectives.

Word Count – 600

• MANAGING HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE

Report – Demonstrate your understanding and responsibility for health & safety, and compliance with current legislation. Describe your experience and application of processes related to welfare/wellbeing issues and working practices.

By using examples from your own experience, identify the principal hazards or breaches of rules (or potential hazards or breaches) in your work place and demonstrate your actions in removing or mitigating the associated risks.

The assessor will take account of the different environments in which these criteria can be applied e.g. site-based, office-based, consultants, academia etc. and will apply judgement accordingly.

Table of competencies – This section is about how you have:

a) Identified your job responsibilities and practices under Health, Safety and Welfare legalisation

b) Identified hazards and assess risks arising from workplace activities

c) Applied welfare/wellbeing and working practices

Think about an example(s) that includes when you have identified risks, breaches and how you dealt with the situation.

Everyone has some responsibility. You need to think about what you do in your job role.

Word Count – 600

• MANAGING QUALITY

Report – Demonstrate your competence in evaluating the quality of a specific product, service, or process by providing good examples where the required or expected standards were not being achieved, and explain your actions to remedy, rectify or improve them.

Demonstrate your competence of managing client or user satisfaction, quality assurance processes and procedures.

Table of competencies –  This section is about how you have:

a) Evaluated the quality of a product, service or process

b) Worked to improve the product, service or process where it does not meet required standards

c) Managed client/user satisfaction, QA processes and procedures

Think about an example(s) that includes when you identified a quality issue with a service, a product or process.

Word Count – 600

• IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT

Report – Provide workplace evidence to demonstrate your awareness and involvement in good practice in the operation of sustainable construction.

Use examples to demonstrate your understanding of sustainable development and legislation, including other sustainable communities, energy management and environmental impact; and include environmental legislation and other controls appropriate to sustainable construction development and your role.

Table of competencies – This section is about showing:

a) An awareness of good practice in the operation of sustainable construction within your job role

b) Application of the concept sustainable development

c) Compliance with environmental legislation in relation to your job role

Think about an example(s) that includes how you have applied sustainable construction to your job role. What legislation do you comply with and how?

Word Count – 600

• KNOWLEDGE OF COMMERCIAL, CONTRACTUAL AND LEGAL ISSUES

Report – Demonstrate your awareness and involvement in construction law, civil law or insurance practice relevant to your job role. This should include examples of specific contracts in which you have had experience of contractual obligations and negotiated contracts, relevant to your job role.

Use examples to demonstrate awareness of the commercial impact of your decisions and actions.

Your examples must show your ability to communicate effectively with clients, consultants, senior management, stakeholders or other relevant personnel regarding commercial, contractual and legal issues.

Table of competencies – This section is about showing:

a) Knowledge and understanding of construction, civil law or insurance practice

b) An understanding of the commercial impact of decisions and actions

c) Communication with clients regarding commercial, contractual and legal issues

Think about an example(s) that includes when you used construction law or insurance practice. What commercial decisions have you made and why? What communication did you have with your clients?

Word Count – 600

Management Competence

• COMMUNICATION

Report – Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with a range of stakeholders relevant to your job role. Examples should include reference to a range of different communication channels.

Indicate the ways in which you adapt your communication style taking into account different parties.

Table of competencies – This section is about how you have:

a) Adapted communication styles to the audience

b) Used a range of communication media channels

c) Communicated with a variety of stakeholders

Think about an example(s) that shows a range of communication methods and how you adapt your style of communication to suit your audience or different stakeholders.

Word Count – 600

• DECISION MAKING

Report – Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to investigate problems or potential problems, analyse possible solutions, implement your chosen solution and then monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of that solution.

The problems or issues could be technical, organisational or interpersonal.

Table of competencies – This section is about how you have:

a) Identified and investigated problems

b) Analysed possible solutions

c) Implemented, monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of the solution

Think about where you needed to find a solution to a problem. What investigations did you undertake, what were the solutions and analyse why you chose your solution? Finally, how did you implement, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the solution?

Word Count – 600

• MANAGING INFORMATION

Report – Use specific examples to demonstrate your ability to manage information including control documents in a range of situations, including at source, flow and dissemination to relevant parties.

Demonstrate how you identify and access information relevant to your role.

Provide examples when the information you required was incorrect or missing/unavailable and explain your action(s) to remedy this for the specific instance and for future error/omission correction.

Table of competencies – This section is about how you have:

a) Managed information and communication systems

b) Identified and accessed information

c) Managed the flow of information in a range of situations

Think about a time when you have managed the flow of information in various situations, how did you identify the need and then access the information? How do you manage information and communication systems?

Word Count – 600

1. LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT/ FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Report – You must provide examples when you developed, contributed to or have an awareness of a project or other strategic/financial plan that demonstrates how you managed, monitored, evaluated that plan. Include how you manage risk, procurement, cost and cost control, finance, time and production in relation to that plan.

Table of competencies – This section is about how you have:

a) Developed or contributed towards a strategic, financial or other plan

b) Monitored and evaluated the effectiveness of a strategic, financial or other plan

c) Managed the various aspects of a plan for example risk, procurement, costs and cost control, financial management, time management and product management

Think about this within the scope of your job responsibilities. You might not have direct responsibilities but you may have made a contribution to strategic and financial planning.

Word Count – 600

tion Title Key Criteria Have your exampleshe key criteria

• DEVELOPING PEOPLE OR TEAMS

Report – Use specific examples to demonstrate how you have developed or managed a team or professional relationships within your role.

Include reference to:

• identifying learning needs

• negotiating a learning plan

• appraisals and performance management

This can relate to yourself or to others.

Table of competencies – This section is about how you have:

a) Identified learning needs and negotiate a learning plan

b) An understanding of appraisal and performance management

c) Effectively managed a team

Think about this within the scope of job role or as an individual if you do not manage a team. Have you helped or mentored a new employee and helped them understand what their training needs are? Have you had to negotiate a training plan? Do you carry out appraisals or do you have regular appraisals yourself? How do they help monitor performance?

Word Count – 600

• INNOVATION

Report – Use specific examples to demonstrate how you have introduced and implemented innovative solutions, systems or processes that have resulted in influencing time, cost, safety or other benefits to your organisation or project.

Your examples should demonstrate how you have used solutions attained through external sources and previous experience and transferred or adapted them to the benefit of your organisation, project or task.

Table of competencies – This includes how you have:

a) Used innovative ideas or solutions to bring benefit to an organisation or project

b) Developed innovative ideas or solutions

c) Used innovation to reduce costs or time

Think about how you have developed a new way working, what benefits it brought in terms of cost and time or other. Can you provide some evaluation and reflection regarding your idea?

Word Count – 600

Commitment to Professionalism

Table of competencies (Item L, M & N) – This includes how you:

a) Demonstrate an understanding and application of professional judgement

and responsibility, including ethical decision making

b) Understand CPD and the benefits

c) Understand the rules and regulations of membership

Think about an example where you have had to make a professional judgement. Make sure it is outside of your normal sphere of work. Show your understanding by providing examples and how learning benefitted you.

• PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY

Report – Based on your own experience, you should describe in detail an occasion or an incident that has required you to exercise your professional judgement.

In this section, your professional judgement relates to an occasion or an incident where it may be regarded as beyond your normal sphere of activities in your role and where you were challenged because of the situation you faced and the consequent ethical decision you were required to make.

The purpose of this section is to ensure that members of the apply appropriate standards of professionalism to their duties based on Rules and Regulations of Professional Competence and Conduct, and their duty of care.

Indicative examples

• Identify a situation where professional judgement was required and how it was demonstrated. (Issues could be behavioural, contractual and may include reference to members of the public).

• Demonstrate process for applying appropriate criteria when exercising professional judgement (e.g. by reference to the Rules and Regulations of Professional Competence and Conduct).

• Identify involvement with making decisions that protect the general public.

• Display knowledge of personal limitations (e.g. when to seek advice from others).

Word Count – 600

• COMMITMENT TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND CONDUCT

Report – Demonstrate using examples from your experience of how, in your role, you function within an ethical framework.

Ethics is at the heart of professional integrity, requiring honesty and respect for the rights of others. It may extend beyond skills, experience and adherence to rules/standards.

Word Count – 600

• COMMITMENT TO CPD. THIS SECTION IS NOT ASSESSED. IT DEMONSTRATES YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 31 OF THE BYE-LAWS

Report – You should show an understanding of the importance of CPD in your role, as this CPD is a mandatory requirement for membership, by providing evidence that you carefully evaluate, plan and implement a range of industry-focused activities to show how they meet your current and future needs.

Demonstrate your role in encouraging CPD in others and your awareness of its importance in developing the construction industry.

Indicative examples

• Identify how you have reflected upon achievement or lack of achievement.

• Evaluate training and development activities.

• Demonstrate where and how you have encouraged others in the organisation to undertake CPD activities.

• The benefits of CPD within your job roles.

Word Count – 600

YOUR 1 YEAR FORWARD PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

THIS PART DEMONSTRATES YOUR COMPLIANCE OF RULE 31 OF THE BYE-LAWS.