1. What does competence mean?
Competence means having the right combination of skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to carry out a particular role or type of work safely, correctly and to the required standard. This combination is commonly referred to as the SKEB across the construction industry.
Competence isn't demonstrated by a qualification alone. It is built through relevant training, practical experience, ongoing professional development and evidence that the required standard of work can be achieved consistently.
2. Does competence apply to individuals or businesses?
Both.
Competence applies to the individuals carrying out the work and to the business responsible for delivering it.
For individuals, this means having the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours needed to carry out their role competently.
For businesses, this includes having the systems, processes and oversight needed to make sure work is carried out competently and consistently by its workforce.
3. How do I demonstrate competence?
Competence is demonstrated through evidence that shows you have the skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours needed for the work you undertake.
This can include:
- Relevant qualifications – NVQ/SVQ or other regulated roofing qualifications
- Roofing disciplines and systems – records showing which types of roofing work you are competent to undertake
- Health and safety competence – evidence appropriate to the work you carry out
- Apprenticeship certificates, where applicable
- Manufacturer and system training certificates
- CSCS or other applicable competency and skills cards
- Relevant roofing experience – including employment or work history
- Practical assessment or workplace observation records
- Supervision or mentoring records where competence has been developed through experience
- Scope and limits of competence – evidence showing what work you are competent to undertake and any limitations
The evidence required will depend on the role, roofing work and competence being assessed.
4. How is competence assessed?
CPS assesses competence through a combination of evidence, assessment and inspection.
This includes reviewing evidence of an individual's skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours, assessing whether they meet the relevant competence requirements, and inspecting roofing work to see that those requirements are being met in practice.
5. Do I need to demonstrate competence if I'm not part of a Competent Person Scheme?
Yes.
The responsibility to ensure that work is carried out by competent people applies whether or not you are part of a Competent Person Scheme.
For CPS contractors, competence is assessed against a framework of technical competencies and reviewed using the Scheme's assessment and inspection processes.
6. What are the MTCs and how do they relate to competence?
The Mandatory Technical Competencies (MTCs) set out the technical competence requirements for specific types of building work, including roofing.
They provide the framework for the assessment requirements that self-certification schemes use to assess businesses and individuals working withing a company registered by CPS.
MTCs describe what a competent installer must know and be able to do in order to carry out, and then self-certify work to the standard the building regulations require.
The MTCs don't introduce the need for competence. They provide a defined framework for assessing the competence required for the work being undertaken.
7. What happens if an assessment identifies a gap in competence?
If an assessment identifies that a competence requirement has not been met, CPS will identify what needs to be addressed and what is required to meet the relevant standard.
This gives you a clear understanding of where further evidence, training or development may be needed.
8. How is CPS making it easier to manage and demonstrate competence?
CPS is introducing Certchain as a new competence management platform to help you manage and demonstrate your competence.
Certchain will help you bring your competence information and supporting evidence together, keep your records up to date and provide the evidence needed to demonstrate your competence.
It will give you a clear record of the competence you have demonstrated and the evidence that supports it.
More information on the Certchain platform will be shared soon.