Certification of Site Contamination Practitioners (CSCP) Scheme

Background

Certification of Site Contamination is a professional industry standard that provides recognition to consultants and other practitioners working in the field of environmental risk assessment and remediation..

Why CSCP?

Request from end users that CRC CARE in consultation with practitioners, regulators and site owners develop a certification scheme that provides a professional industry standard to contamination industry practitioners…

Drivers for the scheme

• The site contamination profession has now matured and would benefit by recognition

• There is a need to benchmark, maintain and improve the standard of professional advice

• Current advice is sometimes variable, seen as poor quality, and not always addressing client needs

• Setting a pathway to assist in career progression.

Policy Context

• Regulatory guidance documents, in most states – including in the ASC NEPM – require an expected level of competence from contaminated land practitioners.

– However, there is not a specific definition of this competence.

• Australian states have established accreditation processes for site contamination auditors.

• The CSCP Scheme is intended to complement the role of accredited auditors and support competent professionals

• Nationally consistent standard • Competency standards are supported

by improved training and education opportunities

• Governance arrangements for the scheme and assessment processes ensure expertise, fairness, equity and confidence in achieving the high standard desired

• The scheme should include a complaints mechanism to ensure poor performance is addressed

Stakeholder & Industry Expectations

• Who developed the Certification Scheme? – An Advisory Board with

independent Chair and includes: consultants, site owners, regulators and CRC CARE

– Broad consultation was undertaken that included regulators, planners, industries, defence

• The cross sectoral representation aims to ensure that the scheme addresses the needs of all participants

Process for developing CSCP Consultants

Site owners

Government Departments

Planning authorities

Regulators

CSCP

Benchmarking other models

• A review of existing professional certification schemes was initially undertaken by ACLCA, and subsequently CRC CARE, as a basis to develop the CSCP Scheme.

• Schemes from Australia, UK, US, Canada and Germany were all reviewed

• Outcomes of the review were considered and, where appropriate, incorporated in the development of the CSCP Scheme

CRC CARE’s role • CRC CARE being the national

Centre of Excellence on Contamination Research was seen as the host and driver for the Scheme by consultants and other end users

• In its infancy, individual groups acknowledged they were not in a position to establish or maintain the scheme and saw themselves as stakeholders

Current status

• Expected launch in second half 2014

• Scheme has been designed, and competency requirements, governance arrangements, assessment criteria, and an economic model will be finalised over coming months.

• Scheme will be available to practitioners across the breadth of the industry

Purpose

• The Scheme aims to provide improved outcomes for all stakeholders by ensuring, through a recognised certification process, that those dealing with contaminated site issues have the necessary level of expertise and skill.

• It will also provide appropriate recognition for the profession, for the expertise of practitioners working in a complex environment, and for the profession’s contribution to society.

Desired outcomes and objectives

The scheme aims to meet the following objectives: • Set best practice standards for service excellence • Ensure a high level of practitioner competency • Provide a nationally consistent standard for professional practice • Promote end-user confidence in professional services • Promote the establishment and use of training resources to support

practitioner development

Governance and design • A National Executive Committee (NEC) will oversee the

introduction and management of the scheme

• The scheme will operate as a not-for-profit activity

• A financial model has been established to achieve financial sustainability after the initial establishment period of the scheme

• CRC CARE will host the Scheme during the establishment period - and provide crucial support in terms of cash and in-kind support

National Executive Committee

• NEC will be established to manage the CSCP scheme.

• Cross sector members will ensure representation of stakeholders with composition expected to be: – An independent Chair – 2 members from consultants – 2 member from end-user industry – 1 members from regulators – 1 CRC CARE representative

• An agreement will be established between CRC CARE and the NEC to ensure the Committee operates independently and according to agreed procedures.

• An Executive officer will be appointed to support the NEC

Certification Core Components The Certification Scheme requires practitioners to be able to demonstrate they meet the criteria within the following components: • Education • Professional practice experience • Competencies in site contamination • Professional Development • Ethical and Professional conduct

Education

• The minimum undergraduate qualification required is equivalent to the Bachelors Degree.

• The undergraduate program to be in science and / or engineering • The scheme’s National Executive Committee will develop further

guidance on non-traditional and/or International qualifications and may establish a separate qualifications assessment committee for this purpose.

Professional Practice

• A minimum 5 years FTE professional practice

• The experience may be in a range of situations e.g. consultant, environmental regulator, industry, government planning authority.

• The expectation is that the applicant can demonstrate a professional role engaged in a range of different situations and involving a variety of contamination issues over the 5 years.

• The CSCP certification is awarded to professionals who have the ability to independently manage the full scope of a contaminated site project.

Competencies A set of defined competencies are being developed grouped in 6 categories: • Understanding of site contamination – nature and causes • Preliminary site assessment • Measuring contamination • Risk assessment • Remediation and management • Professional Practice

Applicants will be required to demonstrate a suitable level of competency in each of the 6 categories.

Professional Development • Demonstration of professional development in the 3 years prior to

application • Continuing professional development of a minimum of 50 hours per

year is required upon certification • The professional development activities can cover a range of topics

including technical, professional, policy and legal issues. • The activities should be relevant to maintaining and improving the

individual’s competencies relevant to the CSCP scheme.

Ethical and Professional Conduct

• A certified site contamination practitioner operates in a sensitive field with serious implications for community and environmental health together with significant economic considerations.

• Applicants will be required to demonstrate an understanding and acceptance of the scheme’s ethical and professional conduct policy.

• Practitioners will be required to uphold the requirements of the policy in their activities.

Application and assessment process Key components will be: • Written application detailing core components

– Qualification – Professional practice experience – Competencies in site contamination – Professional Development – Ethical and Professional conduct

• Referee reports

• Assessment panel review – Case study and interview

• NEC decision

Referee reports

• At least 2 referee reports should be submitted • One referee to be current employer • One referee to be external to current employer with technical

knowledge of applicants work

Assessment Panel

• A pool of respected experts approved by the NEC, will review applications

• Selection of experts will consider the need for broad geographical representation

• NEC will issue guidance on competency rating.

Application of Competency rating scale Score Rating

1 Basic understanding

2 Basic application

3 Comprehensive application

4 Advanced application

5 Mastery

Other features

• Appeals process for applicants • Complaints mechanism re professional performance • Education links • Career development tool for young professionals • Published list of certified practitioners • Publicity and information about the scheme • Membership benefits (e.g. discount on events and other

resources)

Accredited Environmental Auditors • The current process for assessing EPA accredited auditors ensures that

their level of competence and experiences is greater, for a given competence, than the standards outlined for the CSCP scheme.

• Subject to commitment to the CSCP ethical and professional conduct policy, payment of the appropriate annual fees and to the renewal process requirements, Auditors will be accepted as certified contaminated site practitioners without the need for the full application process.

Timeframe & staged application process

• The Advisory Board will be actively engaging the contaminated site sector in the coming months to ensure stakeholder groups achieve maximum benefit from the scheme’s implementation

• The Scheme will continue to be developed and refined in the light of consultation with the view to publishing full details

• It is likely that Auditors and senior professionals (10 years plus experience) will be invited to apply in first round - expected to commence in second half of 2014.

• Feedback is welcome via CRC CARE website and admin@crccare.com