|
If
applicants do not completely fulfil the criteria set out below,
a mentoring system may be offered, at the discretion of the Review
Panel.
1.
Criteria for all advisers and trainers
(including those involved with farming, food supply, processing
and marketing)
1.1
Qualifications
Higher Education Degree or HND in Agriculture or a relevant/closely
related subject would normally be required, except in exceptional
circumstances where the necessary competence can be demonstrated
otherwise.
1.2
Training
Advisers should have completed training in consultancy and advisory
work. Trainers should have completed training and gained a qualification
in training techniques from a recognised body. If qualifications
were gained more than five years previously, evidence must be provided
of a subsequent CPD programme.
2.
Criteria for all advisers
2.1
Personal attributes
 Energetic
and highly motivated
Creative
and solution orientated
Able
to work consistently to a high standard
Self-reliant,
well organised and tenacious
Focused
on the client
Excellent
interpersonal skills
Effective
communication
Able
to build and maintain relationships
Timely
delivery: be able to complete assignments within agreed time-scales
Flexibility
and accessibility: be available to clients and responsive to changes
in client requirements
Resources:
be able to co-ordinate appropriate organisational resources and
backup
Quality
information: be able to provide accurate, beneficial and relevant
information
Ability
to build trust and confidence of clients are a pre-requisite
High
standard of numeracy
2.2
Adviser competence Advisers need to be able to:
Identify
key management issues and develop solutions
Fully
establish, appraise and understand the relative strengths and weaknesses
of a farm system in respect to organic management
Develop
potential strategies and plans to enhance the performance of the
farm system
Prioritise options, their impact and support or manage overall plan
implementation, monitoring and control
Manage
resources: land, labour and capital
Market
and purchase relevant products and resources
Understand
the financial implications of their advice
Work
with other professionals where appropriate: e.g. nutritionists,
organic certification bodies, relevant government agencies etc
(If working
in devolved countries) demonstrate a knowledge of regional differences
in regulations and legislation: e.g. organic standards, agri-environment
schemes, other environmental issues, animal welfare
Make
effective use of information Technology: computers and relevant
software
3.
Criteria for all trainers
3.1
Personal attributes
Excellent
interpersonal skills
Effective
communication skills
3.2 Trainer competence
Trainers need to posses the following abilities and expertise:
Knowledge
of training techniques
Experience
of training tools and equipment
Good
technical knowledge of the subject concerned
4.
Criteria for organic farm advisers and trainers
(for those involved with farming)
4.1
Experience
Farm advisers and trainers are required to have:
at least
one-year's full-time experience in practical agriculture/horticulture,
preferably (but not essentially) on an organic holding
a minimum
of 15 months' experience within the agricultural consultancy sector,
including a sound track record of organic farming consultancy or
training
4.2
Technical expertise
Farm advisers and trainers are required to have a sound,
general working knowledge of organic farming, including farming
systems and practices, conversion, UK and international standards,
basic financial implications, grant aid and support schemes including
OELS, and the agri-environmental framework, relevant regulations,
wildlife management and environmental impact.
Accredited Members are expected to have a sound, general working
knowledge of organic farming, including farming systems and practices,
UK and international standards, business practice, relevant regulations,
wildlife management and environmental impact.
In
addition, Accredited Members are expected to have:
a)
excellent technical expertise,
b) in-depth knowledge of relevant standards, regulations and codes
of practice (such as animal welfare and agri-environmental codes
of practice), and
c) basic financial knowledge.
a), b) and c) should be relevant to at least two of
the main subject areas below and in an organic farming
context. Applicants for Accreditation should ensure they provide
concrete evidence of all expertise in the form of farm reports,
written articles, certificates, evidence of attendance of training,
etc.
Organic
subject areas:
|
|
Arable
|
|
Marketing |
|
|
Horticulture |
|
Animal
nutrition - species-specific |
|
|
Dairy |
|
Soil
management & fertility |
|
|
Beef
& sheep |
|
Nature
conservation |
|
|
Pigs |
|
Conversion
planning |
|
|
Poultry |
|
Business
management |
|
|
Grassland |
|
Other
relevant areas |
5.
Criteria for food supply, processing and marketing advisers and
trainers
(for those involved with organic food supply processing and marketing)
5.1
Experience
Organic food supply, processing and marketing advisers and trainers
are required to have the following experience:
At least
one-year's full-time experience in the food business, preferably
involved with organic food
A minimum
of 15 months' experience within the relevant food consultancy sector,
including a sound track record of organic food consultancy or training
5.2
Expertise
Food supply, processing and marketing advisers and trainers are
required to have the following expertise:
A sound
working knowledge of their discipline, including practices, relevant
regulations, and basic financial implications and a general understanding
of organic food and associated health and environmental implications
In-depth
knowledge of one or more of the main subject areas below, in an
organic food and farming context, including:
a) technical expertise,
b) relevant standards, regulations and codes of practice,
c) basic financial knowledge.
Food
supply and distribution
Marketing,
sales and promotion
Food
processing
Business
management
Fair
trade
Farm
retail
Other
6.
Accreditation for all advisers and trainers
6.1 Accreditation
Applications for Accreditation should be made on the IOTA Accreditation
Registration form available here
[link to form].
6.2 Provisional Accreditation
If the applicant does not fully meet the requirements of IOTA Accreditation,
particularly new advisers who lack the necessary field experience,
Provisional Accreditation may be offered at the discretion of the
Review Panel. This will entail the adviser being mentored by an
appropriate Accredited Member.
6.3 Maintenance of IOTA Accredited status
Accredited members of IOTA are required to adhere to the IOTA Code
of Conduct and to operate in a professional and business-like
manner. Quality control is maintained through random surveillance
of IOTA Accredited Members, which may require the submission of
client reports and attendance at interview. IOTA will review Member's
accredited status routinely every four years, involving assessment
of client reports or other aspects of the Member's work and/or conducting
an interview.
6.4
Continuing Professional Development
Members of IOTA are required to have a CPD Programme which should
include a minimum of 20 hours per year spent in developing their
organic advisory and/or training skills and expertise through appropriate
reading and attendance of training courses and events. Attendance
of at least 2 formal training/updating events is required. Members
are further encouraged to regularly attend other training courses,
farm walks and organic events to keep themselves up to date with
changes in the organic sector. They are required to keep a record
of CPD activities attended, which will be submitted to the Institute
annually on application for renewal of their Membership.
6.5
Withdrawal of Accredited Membership
The decision to withdraw IOTA Accredited Member status may be made
at any time by IOTA. In such cases the Member will be informed in
writing of the reasons. The Accredited Membership may be withdrawn
in cases where the Member:
|
|
has
failed to observe the undertaking given to abide by the code
of professional conduct, |
|
|
ceases
to provide his/her services as an adviser or trainer, |
|
|
is
involved in any action that may have an adverse effect on the
integrity or reputation of IOTA activities, |
|
|
is
demonstrated to lack the necessary competence as an organic
adviser or trainer. |
6.6 Appeals procedure
Advisers or trainers applying for or renewing their Accredited Membership
of IOTA, or having their Membership withdrawn may appeal against
a decision to refuse Membership where they:
|
|
disagree
with an assessment decision, |
|
|
consider
that the assessment process was unfair, |
|
|
consider
that not all the evidence was taken into consideration. |
An
applicant may appeal against a decision by the Review Panel by resubmitting
their application to the Review Panel. As a last resort and if there
is no satisfactory outcome, the applicant may re-submit their appeal
for consideration by the IOTA Board, whose decision shall be final.
An appeal by an applicant must be supported by full written details
of the basis of the appeal, including copies of any relevant correspondence
and any further supporting evidence or materials.
Appeals from candidates will not be considered unless this information
is provided.
IOTA will make every effort to resolve any appeal quickly and will
make at least an initial response within 10 working days.
All appeals must be submitted to the Managing Director at IOTA.
(A fee of £100 will be charged if an appeal is being resubmitted
to the IOTA Board).
IOTA may contact the parties involved for further information if
necessary.
It may be necessary to arrange one or more meetings to resolve the
matter. Legal representatives (of applicants or IOTA) will not be
permitted to attend such meetings. Travel and accommodation will
be at the applicant's own expense. Attendance fees will not be paid.
If, at any point, any of the parties involved wish to place the
matter in the hands of their solicitors, IOTA will make no further
attempt to resolve the issue and will wait for legal action to take
its course. This does not, of course, prevent any of the parties
seeking legal advice.
Final arbitration will rest with the IOTA Board. If the appeal is
upheld, any appeal fee will be refunded.
updated
11.7.07
|
