Competence in Construction

Report 2014

Competence in ConstructionAims and processes

• July 2013 – Government launches Construction 2025 Industrial Strategy

• A number of visions and joint commitments made inc. ‘a clear, standard means of recognising competence’

• 2 actions from action plan include: - identify one card scheme promoted through public

procurement - update on Routes to Competence report (Pye Tait 2011)

• Research project funded by CITB (with HSE co-funding)

• Steering group formed to devise research brief and appoint research organisation – Pye Tait subsequently appointed

Competence in ConstructionResearch Activities

• Pye Tait undertook series of consultation activities with stakeholders/employers/employees which included:

- telephone surveys - workshop - online consultation - direct interviews• Questions asked related to: - industry perception of competence - current processes - components of competence - evidencing and measuring competence - factors that maintaining competency - value of cards/certification schemes

Competence in ConstructionResearch Activities

• Research undertaken on how other sectors of industry define and recognise competence (6 sectors)

• Workshops held March/April 2014 – topics included: - current models of competence - CDM changes and HSE’s vision - work by Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group - conceptualising of competence - role of health and safety in competence - evidencing of competence• Research findings collated and reported in document titled

‘Competence in Construction’ September 2014

Competence in ConstructionHSE Vision 2014

• Competence is a long-term issue • Workforce becoming more qualified• Industry not relying solely on cards• Principal Contractors not insisting that occasional site visitors have a

card • Nationally recognised qualifications being recognised and maintained • Educational and training bodies build on trade skills with skills that

prevent accidents and ill-health;• Card schemes to support nationally-recognised qualifications

Competence in Construction

Competence in ConstructionKey Factors in achieving/maintaining competence

Competence in ConstructionMain ways of verifying competence

Competence in ConstructionBehavioural attributes assessed

Competence in ConstructionWhat cards should evidence

Competence in ConstructionResearch Findings

• Divided into 3 key areas: - definition - developing - evidencing• Findings included both individual and organisational

competence• Definition of competency involves primarily SKATE/SEKA - Skills, knowledge, attributes/attitudes, training, experience Definition further incorporates: - ergonomics, environmental, policies and communication

Competence in ConstructionComponents of Competence

Competence in ConstructionResearch Findings

• Factors for developing competence: - selection - training - assessment - complexity - verification• Evidencing competence includes: - types and methods - cards and certification schemes - renewing and maintaining competence

Competence in ConstructionFramework for Competence

• Report recommends a framework for competence• Why a framework? - hundreds of qualifications/formal courses - thousands of short courses - lack of industry-wide understanding on human factors - supervisor training/development patchy - lack of understanding of inappropriate/invalid

cards/certification - lack of understanding on what cards represent and reliability of

information - 40 card schemes/350 variations means excessive/duplication of

resources to check cards etc.

Competence in ConstructionFramework for Competence

• Principles of the Framework - what constitutes competence - appreciation of human factors (situational, self and risk awareness)

- common standards for card/certification schemes

• Framework Key Elements - Components - Developing - Measuring - Evidencing

Competence in ConstructionFramework for Competence

Competence in ConstructionCard/Certification Schemes

• The framework should require: - an overarching system to co-ordinate and control the numerous

cards/certification - training/education schemes to integrate H & S and human

factors into competence cards/certification - cards to move towards smart data systems – with data stored

and retrieved by the overarching body - a unifying quality or kite mark - a simplified company registration scheme for domestic-type

work

Competence in ConstructionReport Vision

• For the management of competency, the framework should:

- describe competency, the components, and philosophy for delivery and measurement

- be applicable to all, flexible and non-prescriptive - provide clarity for evidence and, through the overarching body,

a centralised database of card/certification standards• Report has made 8 recommendations: - further fleshing out and agreement on the framework - disseminate and promulgate competence and understanding of

competence components at all levels - appreciation of the role of human factors

Competence in ConstructionReport Vision

• Recommendations (cont’d) - Framework to define effective means for evidencing

competence - Establish a Construction Competency Council - Identify most appropriate structure/organisation/body to run

the council - Establish a Secretariat to progress council decisions - Ensure council consultation to maintain and improve framework

and ensure remains fit-for-purpose

Competence in ConstructionNext Steps

• Referral of recommendations to Construction Delivery Group

• Escalation of recommendations to the Construction Leadership Council for subsequent actions

• Review of report’s recommendations and industry feedback session event scheduled 1 December 2014 (Solihull)

Competence in ConstructionSummary

• What the report has done - examined the meanings and perception of competence - isolated and clarified key constituent components - recognised human factors and H & S knowledge as essential

components needing marbling throughout competency requirements

- recognised the need for clarification and components on competency though a framework

- identified the need for a body to oversee and maintain the framework, and provide benchmarks for cards/certification

Competence in ConstructionThanks for listening!