Jon Buttolph, Associate Director of Membership & Professional Development, answers your key questions in the run-up to the launch of CIEH’s new registration pathway on 20 September
How was the pathway devised?
We held many online meetings with employer groups, academics, our own advisory groups, former PPP assessors, and others. We also conducted a survey of members. The consensus was that we needed an approach that would help us produce competent EHPs in a reasonable timeframe, without compromising our professional standards. One of the key points is that the portfolio, which is independently assessed, should only include necessary interventions that could reasonably be expected of a day one qualified EHP.
What is the new process?
To become registered with CIEH as an EHP, an individual needs to:
- Complete an accredited BSc or MSc in Environmental Health
- Build up a portfolio by completing various activities in the workplace. It should be possible to do this in six to 12 months
- Have an interview with two CIEH assessors, who are EHPs themselves, to discuss what activities they have done in their career to date and in completing their portfolio
Why is registration so important?
Registration is designed to reassure the general public, employers and other parties that an EHP is qualified and competent. It shows that the EHP has a good grounding in all areas of EH and is able to apply this knowledge in the workplace.
How do EHPs prove they are registered?
EHPs are entered onto the register of chartered EHPs, the register of EHPs or the register of food safety practitioners – which will all be published on the CIEH website. Registrants will also be issued with digital credentials for use on social media profiles, email signatures and other professional materials to make it easy to verify that a practitioner is registered with CIEH.
What about EHPs registered with the EHRB?
They will continue to be registered with the EHRB. After its closure, we will publish the EHRB registers on our website as a permanent record. EHRB registrants will not have to join one of the new CIEH registers, but there will be a simple process to do so if they wish. Anyone who hasn’t completed the EHRB registration process can switch to registering with CIEH.
Will the process change again?
We’ll review the process throughout the first cohort to see if any minor amendments are required. My hope over the next five years is for evolution rather than revolution.
What are the benefits to employers?
One of the key benefits of the new pathway to employers is that it offers a more back-to-basics approach to professional competence assessment.
Moto Hospitality Ltd’s Jonathan Hayes said: “EHPs are incredibly important to Moto – either as regulators who visit our sites to ensure we are complying with our legal obligations or as employees helping to ensure we have the right standards to protect our workforce and customers in the first place.
“I’ve been involved in developing the new pathway. I feel I provide an independent perspective. We’ve held weekly meetings and regular member engagement sessions to understand the challenges of qualification and employment.
“The scheme is designed to be achievable in any workplace setting and in a shorter time frame, which means that employers get access to employable and professionally credible employees more quickly and at a lower cost. It’s a win-win for all.”
