This in-depth set of courses are designed for administration and technical support officers with some knowledge and experience of the role and profession. It's a three-part course and all parts should be attended in order. After the completion of all three, delegates are given the option to take an assessment which leads to potential technician membership of the CABE.

This series of courses is only open to people already working within a Local Authority. It is an essential conversion for support staff wishing to extend their technical skills and knowledge beyond basic administration support. The courses are made up of practical workshop sessions which include how to read and validate plans, using a scale rule, introductions to plan checking and site inspections, basic site safety, dangerous structures and demolitions and going the extra mile for your customers.

The aim is to improve knowledge and understanding of the professional, ethical and technical aspects of the role and enable staff to better support colleagues and customers to better answer enquiries as they happen. Delegates will gain technical knowledge including familiarisation with plans and drawings and an understanding of legislative fundamentals. An introduction to the validation and valuation of applications will also be covered.

Participation in all three parts of this course followed by a subsequent short assessment, can lead to eligibility for technician membership of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE).

CPD: This three day course counts for 18 hours CPD

Cost: £150 + VAT including lunch and course materials (£150 + VAT each for part one, two and three = total cost £450 + VAT)

Course Content & Learning Outcomes:

Part One

• Approved Documents
  • Cutting through jargon
  • What do plan check schedule items actually mean?
  • Using the Planning Portal and other information sources
• Applications
  • Why we need applications
  • Exempt work
  • Electronic applications and signatures
  • Use classes
  • When is it ok to use a building notice?
• Plan validation
  • Using a scale rule
  • Calculating areas
  • Identifying existing and proposed work
  • Estimating cost of work – what is reasonable?
• Administration of initial notices
  • Reversion
  • Grounds for rejection
  • Protocols
• Charges
  • What do we charge for?
  • Partnership charges
  • Variation

Part Two

• Plan checking workshop
  • Putting it into practice
  • What do surveyors look for when plan checking?
• Checking public sewers
  • Why and how
• Dangerous structures
  • A real case study
  • When will support staff be involved?
• Demolitions
  • Why are we involved?
  • Notifications and notices
• Basic health and safety on site
  • Looking after yourself as a lone worker
• What do surveyors look for on-site?
  • Roofs - timber, trusses, spread
  • Foundations – trees, rafts, ground conditions, sewers, wells/springs
  • Dangers
  • Contraventions
• Excellent customer care
  • Advanced telephone and communication skills
  • What about when the customer isn’t right?
  • Going the extra mile to win and keep your customers
  • Using LABC

Part Three

• Understanding Fire: Passive and active FP, sprinklers, fire alarms, travel distances, fire risk assessments and the role BC has in the prevention of deaths from fires
• Testing and recording: Air testing, acoustic testing, drain testing
• A plan check workshop:What surveyors check in commercial buildings
• Extended services: Maximising market share by offering more services, LABC Consult, In house, making money from your team’s assets and skills
• Marketing - What is the new normal?
• Telephone apps, mobile working, being positive – breaking the bureaucracy cycle
• Working with corporate constraints
• Engaging with your customers: A workshop exercise on running a customer event
• Competent Persons Schemes
• CABE Technician membership test (optional)*

Testimonials:
"Anna made learning so easy and I felt that I came away with a much better understanding of what is involved in Building Control.  I have recommended that more of my team attend these training sessions in the near future. I cannot believe I passed the exam but thank you once again."
"An extremely interesting course, I didn’t know exactly how much work building control officer's covered!“
“A great trainer who made it very enjoyable"
"Really informative and interesting including the overview on dangerous structures and demolitions, plan checking and site visits”
"Thank you! The 3 day course gave me great insight to the Building Regulations,  what a building control officer's work entails and an in-depth understanding of how support roles play a large part in bringing in work. I now have the knowledge to answer questions confidently"

Who should attend:
This course is only open to people already working within a Local Authority, including:
Building control administrative staff and technical support officers
Trainees
Apprentices
New starters
Technical staff or trades people converting to Building Control and staff transferring from other disciplines