Human Focus has introduced Competency Management for Accountable Persons and Principal Accountable Persons, an IIRSM-approved online course for people who hold, support or oversee Accountable Person duties in occupied higher-risk buildings in England.
The course explains how to assess, monitor and evidence competence, both in those managing building safety and in the contractors, assessors and specialists they appoint. It covers what to check before an appointment, how to identify gaps and what records to keep.
A fire door refurbishment case study shows how relying on a familiar contractor without checking competence can lead to unsafe work.
Appointing a contractor or specialist does not remove an Accountable Person’s legal accountability. Building Safety Regulator guidance explains that APs and PAPs must have the relevant competence or appoint competent support, while retaining their legal obligations.
Regulations made under the Building Safety Act 2022 require relevant competence in anyone responsible for or assisting with Part 4 duties. For individuals, this means appropriate skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours. Organisations need the capability to perform their functions satisfactorily.
A training certificate or longstanding working relationship does not, by itself, establish competence for a particular task. Checks need to reflect the work involved, and competence needs ongoing review as roles, risks and requirements change.
This training helps your organisation:
- Give those making appointments a consistent approach to competence checks
- Recognise gaps in individual competence and organisational capability
- Support regular reviews of staff and contractor competence
- Keep clearer evidence of appointment decisions and follow-up actions
This course is designed for people who hold, support or oversee Accountable Person duties, including:
- Accountable Persons (APs) and Principal Accountable Persons (PAPs)
- Building safety and asset managers
- Procurement and contract managers
- People responsible for building safety within housing associations and councils
- Freeholders and managing agents with relevant building safety responsibilities
- Those overseeing building safety in build-to-rent and student accommodation
The focus is occupied higher-risk buildings in England. The relevance of the course depends on the responsibilities held.
Participants will learn about:
- Skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours (SKEB), and why competence is specific to the role
- Using PAS 8673 as a reference for reviewing building safety management competence
- Identifying gaps in their own competence and addressing them through development or competent support
- Checking organisational capability and individual competence before appointing contractors, assessors and specialists
- Recognising when an appointment should not proceed because competence has not been demonstrated
- Monitoring competence through reviews, observation and reassessment following changes or incidents
- Keeping records that support the golden thread of building safety information and the safety case
The case study brings these topics together through a refurbishment where fire door installation is subcontracted without adequate competence checks.
This course provides awareness of specific Building Safety Act duties. Completion does not constitute a formal assessment of competence to undertake statutory dutyholder responsibilities.
Give the people who appoint and oversee building safety contractors and specialists a clearer understanding of how to check and review competence.
The course is fully online, allowing learners to complete it at their own pace.
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