Holistic Survey

Holistic Survey and Remedial Works Approach

The ISSE surveyor must be able to assimilate, apply and unite isolated specialist areas of knowledge holistically.

The ISSE surveyor also unites theory with practice or survey with a contractor. Thus the bounds which separate or restrict so many other organisations are not present in the area the ISSE operates within. Specialist Licensed contractors and companies implement the remedial works identified by their own employed surveyors are more usual than the exception.

While seeming to be a conflict of interests this is not the case as the ISSE has put in place a regulatory framework to prevent this as outlined below. There has to be a practical point at which theory converges with or gives rise to implementation. This convergence usually works in favour of the client and structure in that personal service and supervision should follow seamlessly from inspection to implementation of the surveyor’s recommendations.

Training and qualifications

Thus to prevent conflict of interest surveyors are bound by the ISSE code of practice, and the legal duty of care operates as a control framework, surveyors are trained qualified and monitored, CPD requirements are higher than normally found in Institutes at 50 hours per annum. The business membership categories provide a progressive route commensurate with their employed surveyors’ education, training and qualifications. Business members must also provide ISSE approved training for apprentices where appropriate and technicians. For those business members who satisfy the Board’s criteria in joining the ISSE National Licensed Contractors Scheme Business members must, additionally, be ISO registered audited annually and bound by contract to the National Scheme in upholding its aims and procedures.

Surveyors entitled to use ISSE post nominative letters are required to have experience within the industry for over 3 years as an entry requirement and a portfolio of work must be presented and assessed for membership.

Exemptions from this entry requirement may be granted to those applicants with qualifications from related disciplines supported by a CV where recognised as appropriate.

The ISSE may at the discretion of the Board stipulate an ISSE entry validation course or presentation of a work portfolio to confirm pre-existing experience or accept exemption via external qualifications.

Student entrants can join without experience or qualification but are not entitled to use post nominative letters and must enrol for one or more qualifying courses. Student membership expires after 24 months and progression to surveyor member can occur upon obtaining the minimum number of awards required from time to time by the Board.

Awards are made via a number of means – by classroom seminars and training and always underpinned by practical fieldwork. Training units are completed by satisfactory completion of the course template supported by evidence of a portfolio of acceptable work.

The ISSE have developed a foundation course and qualification onto which can be added separate approved subjects the combination of which gives rise to the appropriate ISSE Certificates and Diplomas.

The Courses and qualifications are assessed and validated by ABBE accreditation services or City university of Birmingham.

CPD and research and seminars are provided by the ISSE and University of Liverpool. Additional specialist research is provided by a range of Universities and other organisations recognised for their leading expertise in their field.