Arboriculturist Apprenticeship Standard

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Knowledge

K1: British Standards relevant to arboricultural works including 3998 (tree works) and 5837 (trees in relation to design, demolition and construction).
K2: Principles of tree growth, physiology, characteristics and reaction to pruning.
K3: The life stages of a tree including propagation techniques, aging process, deadwood habitats and veteran tree management.
K4: Characteristics of tree pests and pathogens, their impact on the tree health and performance, and management responses.
K5: Principles of soil science.
K6: Hazard assessment methodologies in relation to a single tree.
K7: Basic principles of woodland management.
K8: Types of tree works related to tree form, function, and client expectation, their specification and implications for tree health, safety and aesthetics.
K9: Classification of trees and their taxonomy; application of nomenclature (including cultivars where appropriate) per scientific convention.
K10: Implications of legislation and industry best practice guidance when undertaking tree work operations and their impact on team management, policy and process for example H&S Act, specialist training requirements, Working at Height, LOLER, PUWER, AFAG, COSSH.
K11: Considerations when planting trees including planting systems, site factors, species selection, protection, aftercare and British Standard 8545
K12: Tree bracing styles, systems and uses.
K13: Tree inventory systems and their uses.
K14: Types of advanced diagnostic systems and their purpose in assessment of tree risk.
K15: The legal framework around trees including statutory protection for trees and penalties associated with breaches of legislation and regulations.
K16: Health and Safety legislation and regulations; principles related to work placed risk assessment and management, including method statements.
K17: Conflicts between trees and the built environment including damage (direct or indirect) to infrastructure and subsidence.
K18: Benefits of trees (for example climate change adaptation, carbon sequestration, human health and wellbeing) and how these could influence management decisions.
K19: Tree valuation systems, methodologies and their purposes.
K20: The role of an arboriculturist and how this occupation collaborates with other professions for example engineers, land managers, ecologists, landscape architects and planners.
K21: The principles for resilient tree populations and the application of biosecurity.
K22: The characteristics of ancient trees, veteran trees and trees of historical or cultural significance.
K23: Sources of information on funding schemes for tree planting and management
K24: Project Management principles including working within budget, systems and processes.
K25: Contractual terms and processes for example the role of the client brief, the fee proposal, the scope and the instruction.
K26: Tendering, procurement processes and scoring systems.
K27: Principles and use of different communication tools.
K28: Principles of customer service including confidentiality, data management, complaints and use of social media.
K29: Principles of sales and marketing both direct service promotion and indirect industry promotion.
K30: Roles of different stakeholders for example client, public, councillors in management of trees and techniques for engaging with the community.
K31: Staff and team management principles including motivation, performance and work quality.
K32: Principles of equality, safeguarding and diversity.
K33: Principles of managing and supporting meetings.
K34: Sources of information and techniques to research, collate and analyse arboricultural information and data.
K35: The purpose and function of tree management plans and strategies and their implications for tree management.
K36: Methods for establishing and monitoring quality standards for tree work operations.
K37: Methodologies, techniques and tools for inspection and measurement of trees.

Skills

S1: Tree inspection including assessment of health, defects, safety risks, site factors, planning requirements and aesthetics.
S2: Interpret maps and plans.
S3: Assess tree risk to inform decision making.
S4: Specify arboricultural works.
S5: Select advanced diagnostic equipment for tree risk assessment.
S6: Select biosecurity protocols.
S7: Follow instructions and processes.
S8: Write arboricultural reports.
S9: Use software-based tree management systems, including associated laptop and handheld remote working equipment.
S10: Produce plans using digital mapping software (for example GIS).
S11: Select and use different formats to communicate information (for example table, image, map, text, graph).
S12: Collect, research and analyse arboricultural information and data including reliable information sources.
S13: Advise on implications of arboricultural policy, legislation, regulation and best practice including local and national planning policy.
S14: Identification of tree species, their characteristics and requirements for healthy growth.
S15: Manage projects including working within budget, systems and processes.
S16: Produce quotations or tenders including defining a scope/specification of work.
S17: Foster professional relationships with clients, customers and colleagues and engage with the community.
S18: Negotiate with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve desired outcomes.
S19: Communicate information to technical and non- technical audiences using a range of techniques.
S20: Take meeting notes or minutes.
S21: Seek further information from managers, supervisors or colleagues, when necessary.
S22: Create and evaluate relevant risk assessments and method statements for arboricultural operations.
S23: Provide customer service.
S24: Identify soil type, properties, condition and implications for tree health.
S25: Value trees as assets for both amenity and ecosystem service provision.
S26: Establish and monitor quality standards for tree work operations.
S27: Promote the organisation, products, services or activities.
S28: Collect tree data including taking measurements.
S29: Make tree management recommendations verbally.
S30: Identify tree pests and pathogens, assess impacts on tree health and suggest management responses.
S31: Assess tree planting practices.

Behaviours

B1: Act with integrity, for example being open and transparent in dealing with clients and respecting their confidentiality. Take full responsibility for your actions.
B2: Communicates with others and takes into account cultural sensitivities and business practices
B3: Act professionally, providing a high standard of service based on sound business evidence.
B4: Adopt and promote a safety culture within the organisation and acts with regard to health, safety and wellbeing for self and others.
B5: Embed sustainable working practices.

Duty 1

DUTY: Advise about trees including tree management (for example pruning, watering, tree protection, roots), health, the law (for example tree preservation orders, conservation zones), risk and the role of trees in development to the public, clients and colleagues.

Duty 2

DUTY: Interpret and deliver tree / woodland management plans with reference to the role of trees in national / local planning policy and the context in regard to development proposals.

Duty 3

DUTY: Survey tree populations in relation to design, demolition and construction including species identification, protections, size measurements, condition management recommendations, assessment of ‘useful life’ and quality assessments.

Duty 4

DUTY: Survey trees to enable management for example for tree health, condition risk or aesthetic purposes.

Duty 5

DUTY: Inspect individual trees including identification, pests and diseases, health, defects, planning requirements, risk, site / location factors and recommendations for future actions / monitoring.

Duty 6

DUTY: Identify and respond to tree pests and diseases for example reporting, biosecurity measures, nursery stock selection, removal, treatments.

Duty 7

DUTY: Use tree management software including databases and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Duty 8

DUTY: Enforce legislation and regulation regarding trees, woodlands and forests to include tree preservation orders, conservation zones, felling licenses and other designations.

Duty 9

DUTY: Supervise tree work operations to specification for example planting, felling and maintenance operations, to include health and safety on site, environmental, access and quality of works.

Duty 10

DUTY: Supervise contractors, including motivation, quality of work, coordination of resources, health and safety. Develop relationships with customers, stakeholders and colleagues.

Duty 11

DUTY: Provide good customer service, deal with complaints and identify new opportunities for income generation. Promote the organisation, products, services or activities and the benefits of trees, woodlands and forests.

Duty 12

DUTY: Work within defined budgets. Assist with sourcing of additional funding for example through grant applications. Write estimates and quotes for work. Develop costings for jobs.

Duty 13

DUTY: Follow systems and processes required by the organisation and report on information from those systems to monitor organisational performance.

Arboriculturist

Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Arboriculturist standard?

Knowledge

Skills

Behaviours

Duty 1

Duty 2

Duty 3

Duty 4

Duty 5

Duty 6

Duty 7

Duty 8

Duty 9

Duty 10

Duty 11

Duty 12

Duty 13

Duty 14

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Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Arboriculturist standard?