Professional arboriculturist Apprenticeship Standard

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Knowledge

K1: Techniques for undertaking tree works to industry safety standards, including British Standard 3998 (as updated), relevant to the site and operation including complex, valued and unusual trees.
K2: Principles and regulation for managing trees in the context of design, planning and construction including British Standard 5837 (as updated) for the relevant site and operation, including complex, valued and unusual trees.
K3: Factors for planting and establishing trees to independence in the landscape for example designations, soil type, landscape type, biosecurity, tree population resilience, ecosystem services and local ecology, safety standards and regulations, (for example British Standards 8545 as updated) and best practice guidance (for example from the Arboricultural Association, the Institute of Chartered Foresters, National Tree Safety Group, Forest Research)
K4: Tree inspection and assessment methodologies and equipment including up to date available technology
K5: Legislation, regulation and best practice guidance (for example from Arboricultural Association, Institute of Chartered Foresters, National Tree Safety Group) in relation to trees and their management.
K6: Purpose and components of proactive tree strategy incorporating risk assessment methodologies and emergency planning for extreme weather events.
K7: Tree classification, nomenclature (for natural and cultivated plants), species requirements, vulnerabilities and characteristics.
K8: Benefits of trees for people, air quality, nature, the environment, ecosystem services and natural capital. The concept of green infrastructure design within planning and the role of trees in planning policy.
K9: Woodland management principles and techniques for supporting amenity and biodiversity.
K10: The role of policy and strategy in local, organisational and national governance.
K11: Tree valuation methodologies, their benefits, weaknesses and use for different purposes.
K12: Sources of funding and income for arboricultural activities (including grant funding) and techniques for writing businesses cases and grant applications.
K13: Functions and value of tree management systems and software. For example: GIS, CAD, MS Products, Building Information Modelling (BIM)
K14: Legislation, regulation and guidance in relation to Health and Safety for people, machinery, tools and equipment (for example Working at Height, LOLER, PUWER, AFAG, COSSH) to include principles of workplace risk assessment and management, and the production of method statements.
K15: Methods for community and stakeholder engagement, their value and techniques for evaluating results.
K16: Communication techniques (for example written, listening, oral) and tools (for example social media, presentation software).
K17: The arboricultural profession and how other professions are, or could be, aligned with arboriculture.
K18: Requirements of tendering and procurement processes. For example, rules of financial limits, legal challenge, managing contractors and or clients, and forms of contracts.
K19: Soil science and interaction between trees, biotic factors and soil type.
K20: Interaction of trees with the built environment including direct or indirect damage to infrastructure, SuDS (Sustainable drainage systems), rooting volumes, utilities and subsidence.
K21: Responsibilities and requirements of acting as an expert witness including understanding the role of the expert witness in legal proceedings. For example, their duty to the court and being aware of CPR (Civil procedure rules) Part 35.
K22: Properties of ancient trees, veteran trees and trees of historical or cultural significance and the implications for tree management and planning decisions.
K23: Principles of managing organisational systems and processes.
K24: Principles of managing people.
K25: Principles of relationship management and techniques for managing own performance.
K26: Principles of providing sales and marketing services to clients.
K27: Principles of managing tree pests and diseases.
K28: Principles of tree population management including survey and inspection regimes.
K29: Principles of managing finances and budgets.
K30: Techniques for creating and interpreting maps and plans.
K31: Research, data collection and analysis techniques, including reliable sources of arboricultural information.
K32: Principles of project management.
K33: Tree structure, physiological and metabolic processes and implications for management.

Skills

S1: Provide professional advice including on legal frameworks and environmental legislation.
S2: Collect and evaluate arboricultural information and research papers including the identification and analysis of data trends.
S3: Identify trees and their site requirements.
S4: Create and interpret maps and plans.
S5: Communicate technical and non-technical information using various methods and formats. Including verbal, written and electronic (methods) and graphs, tables, images and maps (formats).
S6: Use GIS and CAD software.
S7: Create business cases.
S8: Interpret policy, legislation, regulation and organisational best practice.
S9: Procure arboricultural services through a contract awarding or a tendering process.
S10: Inspect trees in relation to abiotic and biotic tree health, structure, physiological condition and suitability for location.
S11: Specify tree works to achieve defined objectives and which promote long-term tree health, quality standards, biosecurity measures, tree risk management and nuisance management.
S12: Create a tree strategy to include application of tree risk management principles to inform decision making.
S13: Apply tree valuation methods to inform decision making.
S14: Specify tree planting and aftercare requirements. Including species selection, technical planting guidance and planting plans.
S15: Identify existing and potential threats of tree pests and diseases; and plan management actions to prevent, treat and mitigate their impact on people, trees and habitats including any relevant legislation.
S16: Choose the appropriate tree health and stability measuring and or monitoring technology (for example structural stability assessment equipment, biological activity monitors).
S17: Manage own performance, identifying improvements and training requirements. Seek clarification when necessary, know limits of expertise and when specialist input is required.
S18: Engage stakeholders impacted by changes to trees and manages their expectations.
S19: Manage tree survey and inspection regimes for the strategic management of trees.
S20: Find solutions in challenging and complex situations.
S21: Lead and manage projects with multiple stakeholders.
S22: Promote the organisation, products or services.
S23: Assess and evaluate soil in relation to tree establishment, growth and health.
S24: Manage employees, contractors or volunteers including compliance with employment legislation, health and safety, inclusion, performance, quality, training, recruitment, development and evaluation of processes to improve the efficiency and productivity of others.
S25: Manage organisational systems. For example recording, monitoring or reporting systems.
S26: Set, monitor and manage budgets
S27: Manage professional relationships and interactions with others including negotiation, collaboration, advocacy, chairing and participating in meetings.
S28: Advise on the management of trees in the context of design, planning and construction.
S29: Advise on the management of trees in relation to the built environment.
S30: Assess the type, purpose, benefits, condition and quality of woodland.

Behaviours

B1: Act with integrity, for example being open and transparent in dealing with clients and stakeholders, including confidentiality.
B2: Communicate respectfully with clients, stakeholders and colleagues and take into account diversity, inclusivity and equality.
B3: Act in a professional manner including taking responsibility for own actions and being respectful of others.
B4: Adopt and promote a safety culture within the organisation and act with regard to health, safety and wellbeing for self and others.
B5: Embed sustainable working practices and systems aligned with carbon reduction targets and other environmental policies

Duty 1

DUTY: Provide advice and consultancy about trees including tree management, health, the law, risk and the role of trees in development to the public, clients, other professions and colleagues. Advise on amenity, peri-urban and urban tree planting and management; trees with special value (e.g. ancient, historic context, rare, visually important) and the impact of developments and new infrastructure in relation to trees.

Duty 2

DUTY: Able to act as an expert witness on amenity, peri-urban and urban tree related matters.

Duty 3

DUTY: Advocate for incorporating professional tree expertise in green infrastructure design and peri-urban and urban planning. Contribute to green infrastructure innovations and actively promote the benefits of trees within planning policy including air quality.

Duty 4

DUTY: Research, collect and interpret data on trees by recording and capturing data related to site factors, plant health, amenity value, natural capital, ecosystem services, suitability, risk, community perspectives, threats and historical value.

Duty 5

DUTY: Contribute to the development and implementation of tree management plans and strategies, where applicable, incorporating reference to legislation, regulation, policy and best practice (e.g. national planning policy, local and regional planning policy) including resilience and emergency planning for extreme weather events.

Duty 6

DUTY: Lead on delivering proactive tree management that includes managing quality of tree works (in accordance with 'British Standard 3998 (BS3998): Tree work Recommendations'), community/stakeholder engagement, environmental impact and health and safety. Reference to Duty of Care, Highways Act and New Roads and Street Works Act.

Duty 7

DUTY: Manage amenity tree survey and inspection regimes taking into account duty of care and foreseeable risk to people, buildings and property to determine appropriate mitigation options.

Duty 8

DUTY: Survey and inspect trees in complex and unusual circumstances for example ancient or veteran trees, those that are rare, those that are of historical or cultural importance or those involved in subsidence.

Duty 9

DUTY: Inform the development process by adhering to the Town and Country Planning Act while undertaking surveys and producing detailed 'British Standard 5837 (BS5837): Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction' reports, produce high quality plans and associated guidance for professional planners, architects and engineers in relation to trees, e.g. Tree Surveys, Arboricultural Impact Assessments (AIA), Arboricultural Method Statements (AMS), Tree Preservation Order and Conservation Area advice / guidance.

Duty 10

DUTY: Utilise tree data via defined software (Tree Management Databases, Computer Aided Design (CAD), Building Information Modelling (BIM)) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to inform strategic amenity tree management and policy to aid with influencing decision makers.

Duty 11

DUTY: Evaluate and act in accordance with current legislation (statutory and common law), best practice, relevant case law and regulations related to trees.

Duty 12

DUTY: Design and specify amenity, peri-urban and urban tree planting plans by incorporating ‘right tree, right place’ methodologies; identification of suitable sites; appropriate tree species selection; materials; planting and after care; biosecurity; provenance of tree stock; implementing knowledge of current National House Building Council (NHBC) guidance for trees in relation to buildings; and adhering to 'British Standard 8545 (BS8545): Trees: from nursery to independence in the landscape.'

Duty 13

DUTY: Manage tree work operations such as felling, aerial pruning and planting; to include planning, resourcing, procurement (contract creation and tendering for contracts in line with UK and EU regulations and legislation) and management of contractors, health and safety, environmental considerations, access and quality enforcement with reference to BS3998, relevant legislation and regulations, Risk Assessment procedures and arboricultural best practice guidance.

Duty 14

DUTY: Identify and manage tree pests, pathogens and diseases including prevention, management of spread and regulatory reporting. Identify and evaluate future threats to UK trees. Manage the impact of tree pests, pathogens and diseases on amenity trees, human health, ecosystems and the wider environment.

Duty 15

DUTY: Manage the promotion of the organisation and its products and services. Manage relationships with members of the public, other professionals, other professions and key stakeholders.

Duty 16

DUTY: Manage directly employed or contract workforce and volunteers, including work culture, workforce planning, motivation, quality, health and safety, skills, recruitment, retention, training and development.

Duty 17

DUTY: Financial management to include budgeting, financial reporting and, where applicable, sourcing funding (for example Urban Tree Challenge Fund). Generate income including developing business cases, identifying market / audience, quality, customer service, managing targets and developing opportunities.

Duty 18

DUTY: Manage systems and processes, including specialist tree management databases, to drive improvements and utilise relevant information to manage and influence organisational change, enhancing business performance and service delivery.

Professional arboriculturist

Interested in a simple Skills Scan and Learning Progress Tracker tool for the Professional 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

Duty 15

Duty 16

Duty 17

Duty 18

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