C O U R S E S A N D E V E N T S 83 development framework – what in there is useful to you in your work? By listing these documents you are demonstrating awareness. Now you need to turn that awareness into competence. Flesh out your list by thinking of some specific occasions when a particular policy has been of use to you. Perhaps you have dealt with a proposal for change of use in a vacant listed building. Did that change of use require physical alteration to the building and loss of historic fabric? If so, it is likely that you have assessed the significance of the building, looked at the level of harm caused, and then balanced that harm against the public benefits of providing a new use for the empty building. Use the form to demonstrate the process you went through. Did you discuss the proposal with others? Did you negotiate alterations to the scheme? If so, describe this as it demonstrates your ability to work in a team as well as your technical knowledge. Did you take the final decision on the proposal, or did you need some guidance from a more senior person in your company or department? The level of mentoring from others is the deciding factor between ‘Competent’ or ‘Skilled’, so if you are generally autonomous say so on the form. Finally, work up your bullet points into continuous text, work through the other areas in the same way, and you’re there. But what about the areas you feel you know nothing about? This is a common concern among affiliates looking to upgrade. They assume they are ignorant because they are too quick to pigeon-hole themselves. Don’t do yourself down. Think about the bigger conservation picture. Let’s take economics for example. A conservation architect or surveyor deals with cost issues every day, but if you are a conservation officer, you might find this requirement more daunting. In fact, although you may not deal with budget sheets and profit and loss accounts, there will still be more than a smattering of economic knowledge lurking beneath the surface. For instance, if you have to deal with a proposal for a repair where the applicant has gone for the cheapest solution, determining the most appropriate option requires some awareness of the impact of costs on building projects. Being able to explain to someone that a repair which will initially cost more may be cheaper in the long term, demonstrates an understanding of long-term economics. Similarly, I was recently asked by a structural engineer ‘How can I demonstrate my competence in relation to conservation philosophy? I haven’t studied it’. I asked him to describe his work and he then proceeded to tell me in detail about the decisions he took in relation to the repair of a timber frame so as to retain as much historic fabric as possible and to preserve interesting tool marks and joinery details. This entire decision-making process was driven by conservation philosophy. He just hadn’t recognised it as such because he had never been formally taught it. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? After you have completed the form and submitted it, the IHBC national office checks that it fulfils the requirements. If they feel that you are lacking in particular details or information then they may make some suggestions for amendments. Do not ASSESSING COMPETENCE Unaware Aware Capable Skilled Expert unaware of subject area possess little or no knowledge/ skills require full training and development possess basic knowledge/ skills unable to work without supervision require training/ development and more in-depth information possess adequate knowledge/skills able to work with some autonomy able to work effectively as part of team require guidance/some further training possess requisite knowledge/skills to perform effectively and efficiently able to work with considerable autonomy need occasional top-up training acknowledged by others as an authority very substantial personal autonomy be disheartened if this happens. It is better to know straightaway than to wait six weeks before finding out you need to do a bit more. If the information on the form is complete, the national office will pass the application on to the relevant IHBC local branch for comment before sending it to the membership assessors. The branch will check over the form. If you are already known to the branch committee then they will comment on your knowledge and expertise. If they do not know you personally, then they may contact other IHBC members working in the same area or profession to check your skills. Once branch comments have been received, the application is considered in full by the membership assessors. The team includes the chair of the Membership and Ethics Committee and a group of full members who represent all aspects of the wideranging membership of the IHBC, and who are highly skilled at recognising the strengths of the various professions which fall under the IHBC banner. The assessors consider which level of each competence you have achieved, and their comments are then collated by the committee chair. If the committee recommends that you are granted full membership, this will be taken to the next meeting of IHBC Full Council for approval. If the Membership and Ethics committee do not think that you are quite ready, its chair will send you a detailed response outlining which areas the committee thinks need further work, and some pointers on what to do next. At any time during the application process you can contact your local branch chair, county or membership rep and ask for help and advice.
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