Your competence is the combination of your knowledge, the skills you have acquired and how those combine into performance. A consistent level of achievement to an appropriate standard is evidence of competence.
Our Competency Framework recognises four levels of competence: Foundation, Capable, Proficient and Authoritative. Each of the individual competencies has a description of what would typically be expected of someone working at each level.
It is important to note that the descriptions of what is covered by each competency are necessarily quite general so that you can apply the Framework to your own work context; whether you are working as a land manager, consultant, environmental adviser, regulator, policymaker, local authority ecologist, academic or any other relevant role.
It is for each individual to decide where the competencies appropriate to their work experience ‘fit in’ to the Framework, although CIEEM can provide advice and help if required.
Someone working at the Foundation level of competence has some knowledge with an understanding of terminology and concepts. They have some experience of practical application. They would be able to carry out standard tasks to the required standard under supervision.
Someone working at the Capable level of competence has the knowledge and experience essential to carry out standard tasks unsupervised consistently well. They are likely to need to seek advice before carrying out complex or non-standard tasks.
Someone working at the Proficient level of competence has the knowledge and experience of this activity to carry out complex, specialist or non-standard tasks to the required standard consistently. They are aware of alternative options and approaches and can provide guidance, instruction and advice on this activity to others.
Someone working at the Authoritative level of competence is widely recognised as an authority, both by others within the organisation and/or by external peers, for the knowledge and experience they demonstrate in some or all of the activities covered by this competence.
As you work your way up from the Foundation level to the Proficient level, you will be able to demonstrate increasing skill and knowledge and will require less supervision and guidance. CIEEM’s Competency Framework underpins much of our work. Our Professional Development programme aligns with it where relevant, and higher grades of membership and Chartership can only be attained by evidencing your competence against the requirements of the Framework. Some larger organisations are also adopting the Competency Framework as an internal staff development structure, or in some cases adapting it to produce bespoke versions directly relevant to their work.