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Historic environment advice assistant

Historic environment advice assistant

Creative and design

Level 4 - Higher Technical Occupation

Providing technical, research and logistical support to Historic Environment professionals working with heritage assets.

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Reference: OCC0749

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Average (median) salary: £36,375 per year

SOC 2020 code: 2151 Conservation professionals

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 2151/01 Conservationists
  • 6211/06 Museum and heritage assistants

Technical Education Products

ST0749:

Historic environment advice assistant

(Level 4)

Approved for delivery

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Historic England, English Heritage, National Trust, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Chris Blandord Associates, Warwickshire County Council, National Parks (Northumberland), National Parks (Peak), Centre for Applied Archaeology University of Salford, Lichfields, Savills, Cullen Conservation, Alan Baxter, Arup

Summary

This occupation is found in the Cultural Heritage, Historic Environment, Engineering, Construction, Design, Planning, Local Government, Education and Tourism sectors.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide technical, research and logistical support to Historic Environment professionals working with heritage assets in the planning and development process, and on the legal and policy frameworks for their protection.Examples of heritage assets include historic buildings, places, landscapes, townscapes, monuments, the historic marine environment, archaeological sites and deposits of heritage interest, registered parks, gardens and battlefields. Legislation or policy frameworks may be international, national or local, and include (but are not limited to) the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, National Planning Policy Framework, Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, Ecclesiastical Exemption Order 2010.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of clients, colleagues and stakeholders in the public, private and third sectors, within organisations of any size. The Historic Environment Advice Assistant is typically office based but duties also include site visits, outdoor working and attendance at meetings with stakeholders, clients or colleagues.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for researching, investigating, analysing and reporting upon aspects of the historic environment in order to inform advice and recommendations on change, protection, maintenance, interpretation, conservation or restoration. Their work supports the evaluation of the significance of the historic environment, assessment of its condition, and its sensitivity to change. Where necessary, they are required to present arguments clearly and effectively based on their analysis. They also assist with the design and help monitor the implementation and compliance of programmes of work relating to heritage assets.The Historic Environment Advice Assistant will typically be expected to work independently conducting research and preparing documentation and may be responsible for providing advice and recommendations to clients or the public without the supervision of senior colleagues, where appropriate to individual cases.

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Historic England, English Heritage, National Trust, Mott MacDonald, Atkins, Chris Blandord Associates, Warwickshire County Council, National Parks (Northumberland), National Parks (Peak), Centre for Applied Archaeology University of Salford, Lichfields, Savills, Cullen Conservation, Alan Baxter, Arup

Typical job titles include:

Assistant archaeological advisor
Assistant conservation and design officer
Assistant conservation officer
Assistant heritage consultant
Assistant heritage officer
Assistant historic buildings officer
Assistant historic environment officer
Assistant historic environment record officer
Associate heritage consultant
Built heritage assistant
Casework officer
Designation officer
Heritage assistant
Heritage at risk projects officer
Listing officer

Keywords:

Creative
Cultural
Environment
Heritage
Historic
History
Professionals
Public Services

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: How to respond to client or public requests and organisational requirements e.g. requests for advice from owners of Listing Buildings, or requests for record information about Listed Buildings from colleagues
K2: Knowledge of stakeholder communication methods and strategies and how to maintain honest and constructive relationships.
K3: The requirements for projects, including timescales, deadlines, cost implications, and identifying milestones/targets.
K4: Heritage policies, frameworks, strategies, and best practice Standards for historic building conservation and archaeological work e.g. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Historic England: Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance for the sustainable management of the Historic Environment, DCMS: Principles of selection for listing buildings
K5: Where and how to find the relevant statutory legislation and other guidance concerning change in the historic environment, e.g. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, National Planning Policy Framework, Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, Ecclesiastical Exemption Order 2010
K6: The Historic Environment conservation principles (BS7913) and other published criteria for assessment and design
K7: The fundamentals of archaeological, landscape or architectural history and building practice and chronology, including a broad understanding and recognition of archaeological site or building types, styles, technologies, materials and periods
K8: The wider context of the historic environment, and the roles and responsibilities of statutory authorities, heritage organisations of all types and specialists, e.g. public, private and third sector organisations, subject specialist networks
K9: Documentation used in the identification, management, design or recording of the Historic Environment, e.g. assessments of significance, Local Development Plans, listing and designation statements, desk-based assessments, Historic Environment Records.
K10: Compliance processes for the historic environment, including heritage at risk and enforcement.
K11: Their employer’s health and safety policy and procedures and operational procedures and how those relate to industry standards, and the fundamentals of relevant Health and Safety legislation and construction site Health & Safety. How to recognise and report risks.
K12: Their role in the context of the project which they are working, what is required of them, and the implications of the project on the wider context of the historic environment. The limits of their own understanding, abilities and responsibilities, and how to practice within them. The ethical requirements of the relevant professional body.
K13: Knowledge of learning and self-development opportunities within the sector and how to develop a personal action plan
K14: How to identify archaeological sites or building types, styles, technologies, materials and periods in practice.

S1: Work as part of a team and communicate effectively with colleagues, clients and stakeholders
S2: Coordinate and administer casework and projects, manage projects for clients or organisations including using systems and processes specific to the historic environment sector
S3: Demonstrate time management skills, prioritise workload, work under pressure and be able to meet critical deadlines
S4: Write reports, specifications and briefs for projects that are complex and non-routine but well defined, e.g. Written Schemes of Investigation, Conservation Management Plans, listing and designation advice, desk-based assessments
S5: Interpret technical information and documents on the historic environment, e.g architectural plans, design and access statements, listed building consent orders
S6: Link, contextualise and apply legislation, policy, standards and guidance to projects, e.g. Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, National Planning Policy Framework, Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017, Ecclesiastical Exemption Order 2010
S7: Assess and describe the condition of the historic environment, e.g conducting evaluation visits, desk-based assessment, assessments of significance
S8: Problem solve and evaluate proposals for change and gauge appropriateness of proposed actions
S9: Apply relevant historic environment sector standards to check and review work
S10: Identify, compile and process data on the historic environment
S11: Review and maintain records on the historic environment in accordance with relevant standards
S12: Exercise appropriate judgement and decision making, escalating to/involving others when dealing with complex queries or sensitive cases
S13: Recognise the potential for work in the historic environment to deliver public benefit, identify opportunities for research and to deliver new knowledge for society
S14: Be responsible for mapping and working to data standards, carrying out information reviews or technical investigation on the historic environment
S15: Work in a variety of outdoor and indoor site types safely, recognise and report risks in order to reduce the risk of incidents
S16: Identify and use of range of methods and techniques to identify archaeological sites or building types, styles, technologies, materials and periods in practice

B1: Take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work
B2: focus and pay attention to detail
B3: Ability to problem-solve and negotiate
B4: Commit to quality and their continuous professional development
B5: Work effectively individually and as part of a team
B6: Be approachable and able to communicate with all levels of their own and other organisations, as well as the general public, in workplace settings, as well as during site visits and stakeholder meetings
B7: Be sensitive to and aware of the significance of the historic environment, and the needs of its stakeholders, being conscious of integrity, honesty and professional ethical requirements

Duties

Duty D1

Research and compile information on the historic environment through desk based or site-based investigations, using site inspections, online resources and archive research, e.g. using National Monuments Record, National Heritage List, Historic Environment Records etc

Duty D2

Apply the relevant legislation and policy to historic environment projects, casework or applications, within broad but generally well-defined parameters, e.g. BS7913 (Guide to Conservation of Historic Buildings), Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), Historic England: Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance for the sustainable management of the Historic Environment, DCMS: Principles of selection for listing buildings)

Duty D3

Assess the condition of the historic environment within broad but generally well-defined parameters, based on understanding of principles of conservation in the historic environment. For example assessing the extent and rate of deterioration of part of the fabric of a listed building or an archaeological site

Duty D4

Design, develop or determine the impact of applications and proposals for change to the historic environment e.g. alterations or repairs to a listed building or its demolition, or development-led changes to an archaeological site or Conservation Area

Duty D5

Identify risks to the historic environment, constraints and opportunities (such as regeneration, adaptive reuse). For example the impact of development, risks of adverse weather conditions to historic fabric, or deterioration of historic sites through a lack of intervention/neglect

Duty D6

Produce and evaluate documentation supporting the management of change of the historic environment. For example this could involve producing, assessing or updating conservation management plans, statements of significance, identifying where specialist skills may be required and commissioning specialist services

Duty D7

Interpret design documentation that relates to change in the historic environment, this may involve reviewing graphical material including building and engineering drawings

Duty D8

Provide technical advice, recommendations, or consultation responses related to the historic environment to stakeholders, within broad but generally well-defined parameters, such as providing technical advice on the protection, maintenance, interpretation, conservation or restoration of an archaeological site, listed building, or registered park or garden

Duty D9

Monitor the implementation of investigation or work programmes and statutory compliance concerning the historic environment in well- defined circumstances, e.g. checking that conservation work has been carried out to an acceptable standard, monitoring planning conditions where they relate to Written Schemes of Investigation, monitoring grant awards, or checking listed building consent conditions have been met

Duty D10

Demonstrate public benefit of the historic environment, presenting arguments clearly and effectively and conducting the public dissemination of information about the historic environment. For example demonstrating how a historic site or conservation area can contribute to a sense of civic pride and improve well- being, improve local employment and economic growth

Duty D11

Raise awareness, appreciation and understanding of the historic environment, and promote good conservation practice, through an understanding of historic environment principles, policies and guidance

Duty D12

Assist with the design of technical briefs and specifications for carrying out or procuring a range of historic environment products and services

Duty D13

Manage and catalogue data recovered from research or investigation on the historic environment, this includes use of GIS and map-based database systems, such as the National Heritage List, Historic Environment Records, National Monuments Record etc

Occupational Progression

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In this map, the focused occupation is highlighted in yellow. The arrows indicate where transferable knowledge and skills exist between two occupations. This map shows some of the strongest progression links between the focused occupation and other occupations.

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Progression decisions have been reached by comparing the knowledge and skills statements between occupational standards, combined with individualised learner movement data.

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