Oversee an approved contractors’ scheme

This Standard is about facilitating an approved contractors’ scheme. This is in relation to quality assuring contractors’ work and overseeing their practice rather than approving them or running a membership scheme.

It involves keeping records, running an audit scheme, standardising their practice, updating them, handling complaints about contractors and disciplining them when necessary.

This Standard is for managers, senior water fittings compliance inspectors and others who are responsible for overseeing an approved contractors’ scheme.

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1. keep records of approved contractor activity in line with organisational procedures
2. verify and validate certificates of compliance issued by approved contractors
3. operate a system which identifies contractors for review in line with approved contractor scheme and organisational policies and procedures
4. carry out regular audits to assess compliance of approved contractors’ work, re-inspecting sites when necessary
5. make sure approved contractors participate in audit activities
6. communicate with approved contractors in ways that promote their understanding and acceptance of your feedback
7. provide technical advice, guidance and support to contractors when required
8. investigate complaints about approved contractors’ work and practice in line with the approved contractor scheme and organisational procedures
9. operate disciplinary procedures for approved contractors in line with the approved contractor scheme and organisational procedures
10. escalate any non-compliance against approved contractor terms and conditions and codes of practice to approved contractors’ scheme operators
11. monitor approved contractors’ performance and engagement with approved contractor scheme at appropriate intervals
12. promote the benefits of approved contractor schemes, the sectors they cover and their relationship with the water company to customers, stakeholders and potential approved contractors
13. respond to queries from colleagues and stakeholders about the sectors that individual members of an approved contractor scheme can issue certificates of compliance for
14. safeguard information associated with approved contractors and certificates issued in accordance with organisational data protection procedures

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1. relevant legislation appropriate to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales covering the design, installation and maintenance of plumbing systems, water fittings and water-using appliances
2. regulator specifications, appropriate British standards and approved installation methods including Type BA devices (reduced pressure zone valves) and what is required to be notified by customer prior to installation
3. relevant regulatory, organisational, operational and emergency processes and procedures relating to health, safety and the environment
4. what constitutes contravention of legislation for different plumbing systems
5. the requirements of procedures for approved contractor scheme and the organisation including those for audits, handling complaints and disciplinary processes
6. which records about contractors and their activity need to be kept, including notifications, certificates of compliance, past complaints and other correspondence
7. how to verify and validate certificates of compliance issued by an approved contractor
8. how to operate organisational systems for information storage and retrieval
9. how to structure information and communicate with contractors as individuals and in groups
10. methods to support approved contractors including training, continuing professional development, information and advice
11. information required to monitor approved contractors performance and engagement with scheme
12. techniques for giving feedback that help gain acceptance of your message
13. how to access terms and conditions and codes of practice operated by approved contractor schemes and procedures for escalating non-compliance
14. the benefits to customers and the organisation of using approved contractor schemes
15. organisational data protection requirements and procedures for safeguarding information received associated with approved contractors and certificates issued
16. how to access information about the different sectors run by approved contractor schemes and what they are allowed to issue certificates of compliance for

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1

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2027

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Current

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Original

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Energy & Utility Skills

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N/A

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Engineering and Construction Trades, Law and Legal Services, Water Inspector

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water; fittings; byelaws; regulations; legislation; compliance; contravention; contamination; approved contractor; monitor; oversee;

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