National Quality Mark Scheme for
Land Contamination Management(NQMS)
Seamus Lefroy-Brooks SCLF 15th March 2016
“The selection of consultants can be complex because there are
large variations in the competency of companies offering
contaminated land services, many of whom offer extensive
services on the basis of only limited resources or experience.
There is no single directory of specialist consultancies nor any
unified registration scheme which validates their competence.”
1997 CLR12
Background
established
• national brownfield strategy
• national skills framework
• national brownfield forum
English Partnerships Brownfield Conference (March 2008)
“The forum's remit is to oversee the implementation of the
national brownfield strategy, to improve co-ordination on
contaminated land and brownfield policy between
Government, devolved Administrations, regulators and
practitioners, and to encourage the exchange of best practice
and knowledge.”
(House of Lords Hansard 21st April 2009)
National Brownfield Forum (February 2009)
• discuss brownfield issues
• support the development of best practice by regulators,practitioners and problem-owners
• identify key challenges
• seek appropriate resolutions
The Land Forum (July 2011)
Land Forum Membership
AGS
BLRS
CIEH
CIWEM
CL:AIRE
CLG
DEFRA
EA
EIC
EPUK
Geol Soc
HBF
HCA
ICE
IEMA
Land Trust
Local Authority Contaminated Land Regulators
NHBC
Northern Ireland
Government
NIEA
NRW
REHIS
RICS
RSC
SAGTA
SEPA
SOBRA
SiLC
Strategic Forum TCPA
UKCG
UKELA
Voluntary Land Forums
Welsh Government
To ensure that a satisfactory standard of work isundertaken and provide confidence to regulators aboutthe quality of submissions made under the planningsystem (NPPF).
The scheme is voluntary and the procedure is simple.
NQMS Aims
• to improve the quality of reports delivered by the
contaminated land industry to a level whereby Developersand Regulator(s) can better rely upon the conclusions putforward without the need for further scrutiny or auditing.
• to provide assurance to Developers (who retain thelegal responsibility for adequately dealing with landcontamination problems) and to Regulator(s) that therisks arising from land contamination have beenadequately assessed and dealt with by competent people.
NQMS Objectives
Reports are checked to ensure that:
1. The work has been planned, undertaken and written up by competent people
2. The underlying data has been collected in line with established good practice.
3. The data has been processed, analysed and interpreted in line with good practice and any specific advice provided by the relevant regulatory authorities.
4. The report sets out conclusions or recommendations that are substantiated by the underlying data and are based upon reasonable interpretations.
5. Any limitations in the data or uncertainties in the analysis are clearly identified along with the possible consequences of such limitations.
NQMLC Scheme
• SQP is an individual, approved and registered by thescheme, who checks the report and whose judgementcan be relied upon with some degree of finality.
• SQP will ensure that the key aspects of the report havebeen either checked directly by themselves or byindividuals with a requisite level of capability.
• SQP signs a declaration form to this effect.
• A separate declaration is required for each document,which may then bear the National Quality Mark)
SQP Role
An experienced chartered professional
• Bound by a professional code of conduct
• Sufficient specialist contaminated land experience to have agood overview of
• The requirements of the various regulatory regimes and
• What is required to effectively assess a site andremediate it to a suitable condition.
SQP eligibility
So 'suitably qualified' can essentially mean someone whohas:
• a thorough knowledge of all the relevant legislation andguidance and
• demonstrable understanding of the relevant issues andtheir implications and
• demonstrated substantial, relevant and currentexperience
SQP eligibility
SQP competence assessment is made on the basis ofthe Brownfield Skills Development Framework.
The skills framework has 5 levels of capability• SQPs will need to demonstrate Level 4 or higher in
a range of roles• they may only be able to delegate individual tasks
to persons with a capability of Level 4 or higher indelegated roles (eg SoBRA DQRA).
Brownfield Skills DevelopmentFramework Assessment
Brownfield Skills Development Framework
Process
Implementation
Specify Methods and
Techniques:
– Bioremediation
– Soil washing
– Soil stabilisation /
solidification
– Vapour extraction
– Etc
(Level 4)
- Is able to construct, maintain, operate and monitor process
systems/techniques in line with relevant designs and
performance criteria
- Is able to compile comprehensive information on technique
performance ensuring that project/systems are auditable
and compliant with legislation and project specific
requirements
- Is able to design and undertake sampling and other
investigations to verify the effectiveness of a remediation
scheme against its remedial objectives
- Is able to compile comprehensive information on technique
performance ensuring that project/systems are auditable
and compliant with legislation and project specific
requirements
Assessment to confirm
understanding of key principles
AND provision of examples of
structurally sound designs
SiLC, as nominated SQP provider, are extending theirtraining to enable potential SQPs to demonstratepossession of the required level of skills.
The SOBRA accreditation scheme has been designed usingthe SDF and will dovetail into the proposed NQMLCscheme.
Brownfield Skills Development Framework
January 2014Land Forum discussion regarding the best way to improve standards in our industry led toestablishment of working sub-group.(sub-group included EA, HBF, local authority, SILC, AGS, SOBRA and SAGTA )
June 2014Sub-group drafted briefing the Land Forum meeting on 25th June when a resolution waspassed to proceed with the scheme development.
October 2014Sub-group reached agreement on draft eligibility criteria for SQPs to sign off reports anddeveloped a draft declaration.
November 2014The Land Forum agreed to adopt the National Brownfield Skills Development Framework as abasis for judging the competence of contaminated land professionals.
December 2014Sub-group revised documentation for consultation
NQMS Timeline
Content
Operating the NQMS
Website
What is an SQP?
How to become and SQP
NQMS Process
SQP Register
Declaration Process
Operating the NQMS
Land Forum –cross industry
Administrator – CL:AIRE
SQP Provider -SiLC
NQMS Steering Group
Website
Dedicated website www.claire.co.uk/nqms
Individual logo linking to Land Forum
Link from the Land Forum web page
www.claire.co.uk/landforum
Explanation of what the National Quality Mark
Scheme is?
Overview and purpose of the scheme – link to
overview document
Frequently Asked Questions
Website cont.
What is a National Quality Mark - Suitably Qualified
Person (SQP)?
How to become a NQM - SQP and link to
qualification providers eg SiLC’s website
Register of NQM – SQP
Link to Declaration System
Complaints & Disciplinary
What is an SQP? Experienced Professional in field of land
contamination
Capable of assessing whether a document
meets the requirements of the scheme
Chartered person assessed by a professional
body & bound by code
Experienced with good overview of
requirements
Capable of recognising own limitations and
knowing when specialist skills required
Aware of regulatory requirements
Undertake CPD
How to become an SQP
SQP must qualify via approved awarding provider
– currently SiLC offering to be this
SiLC exam process examines majority of SQP
skills requirement but not all
To become SQP, current SiLCs will be required to
undertake a conversion course to cover additional
SQP skill requirements
How to become SQP
For new applicants wanting SQP status only –
SiLC will provide the SQP exam. The exam for
SQP/SiLC will be the same. You won’t need to
become SiLCs first or do two exams
If successful, candidates will be offered SQP &
SiLC qualifications
SiLC register will remain on SiLC website
SQP register will only be on NQMS website
NQMS ProcessSQP qualifies via approved training
scheme
Training provider informs CL:AIRE of details of approved SQP
CL:AIRE uploads SQP details & updates the SQP register on the
NQMS website www.claire.co.uk/nqms
SQP is notified by CL:AIRE that they are registered on SQP register and
informed of their unique SQP number
SQP is asked to register on the CL:AIRE website to enable them to use
payment system for declaration system
SQP goes to the NQMS website www.claire.co.uk/nqms
SQP logs in and pays a flat fee per declaration
Once payment confirmed (instant if paid by credit card/paypal or slower if invoice
requested), an acknowledgment of payment is provided and a link to a blank online declaration form with a
unique reference number is sent. The acknowledgement of payment if not
paying by credit card will be a manual process (slower and not preferred). NO
PAYMENT = NO DECLARATION
Each declaration will have a unique reference number and will be linked to
the individual SQP
SQP completes form electronically online. When completed, this is then
saved as a PDF (without signature) and link sent to SQP.
SQP downloads PDF,signs(manually/electronically) then saves as
PDF.
SQP attaches an electronic copy of declaration with planning application
when required.
SQP RegisterSQP No. Name Company Email Address Year
AwardedAwardingBody
Declarations
SQP 1 Joe Bloggs
BloggsLtd
2016 SiLC
SQP 2
Each declaration
assigned to an SQP listed for
ease of checking.
Looking to be automated.
Various awarding
bodies may establish. Need
to meet criteria set by
Land Forum
Unique Number,
remains with SQP
Declaration Process
Automated Process
Log onto CL:AIRE Website
Pay for Declaration
Link to declaration form sent on payment
Online declaration form to be completed
Information saved and link sent to SQP
One declaration = one report
Initial cost = £60 + vat per declaration
Review Annually – must be self financing
Records saved for auditing
Declaration Process
Each declaration will have a unique reference
number that will be traceable to the SQP.
Each declaration will have a black and white
imprinted logo with a unique identifier inserted
for authenticity, traceability and to prevent fraud.
e.g.
Date & Month
Unique Number0116-A389
March 2015Public Consultation
August 2015Development of the Environment Agency’s regulatory position on the scheme
July 2015Review of consultation responses and final scheme developmentSQP capabilities and examination procedures
October 2015Selection of Scheme Administrator (CL:AIRE) & SQP Provider (SiLC)Administration and funding arrangements for the schemeDefinition of standards and project auditing procedures
December 2015Definition of standards and project auditing proceduresDevelopment of the communications strategySub-group assembly of final scheme documentation
NQMS Timeline
March 2016Land Forum approval of finalised NQMS(including SoBRA scheme)
Summer 2016Training and promotion of scheme
Autimn 2016Scheme launch
NQMS Timeline
Thank you
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