RIBA Client Design Advisor (CDA) Assessment Panel

Timescale
The CDA Assessment Panel will meet twice a year to assess CDA applications. However, in 2008 due to changes to the RIBA main database affecting the CDA online application process, we will only be assessing applications around Sep/Oct 2008 - dates are still to be confirmed. For more details please email clientdesignadvisor@inst.riba.org

Assessment Panel members
The CDA Assessment Panel must be quorate (6) comprising the Chair (or in his/her absence, the Director of Practice or a nominee from Practice Committee appointed by the Chair) and 5 other members of the Panel. More panel members will be required if there are over 90 submissions.

Current CDA Assessment Panel members:

• Paul Fletcher - Chair, RIBA CDA Steering Group; Fletcher Architects [studioFAB]; RIBA Client Design Advisor
• Wendy de Silva – Dransfield Owens De Silva Ltd; RIBA Client Design Advisor
• Janet Davies – General Manager, LSL NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust
• Simon Foxell –  The Architects Practice; RIBA Client Design Advisor; Immediate Past Chair, RIBA London
• Jonathan Ibikunle – Design Manager, Partnership for Schools
• Mairi Johnson – Head of Enabling - Better Public Buildings, CABE
• Paul Middleton - Design Manager, Partnership for Schools
• Ruth Reed – Course Director; Post Graduate Diploma in Architectural Practice, Birmingham School of Architecture
• Sue Smith – Chief Executive, Harborough District Council; Chair, RIBA Client Services Task Group
• George Stowell – George Stowell Architects Urban Design; RIBA Client Design Advisor
• Beech Williamson – National Programme Manager, Partnership for Schools
• Adrian Dobson – RIBA Director of Practice (Facilitator)
• Adam Williamson - RIBA Head of Professional Standards (Facilitator)

Conflict of interest

• After the submission deadline for applications, the Panel will be sent a list of applicants.
• Members of the Panel must declare any potential conflict of interest with any of the applicants on receipt of the list of nominees, on the relevant Conflict of Interest form outlining their connection to each nominee.
• The following categories are considered to be a conflict of interest:
• Family, (spouse/ partner/ sibling/ child/ parent)
• Present or former work colleagues
• Anyone with a financial connection
• Past or current employer
• Close friend
• Panel members will be allocated forms of applicants for whom they have not expressed any potential conflict of interest.
• The Chair of the Assessment Panel will read out any declarations of interest at the commencement of the assessment day. It will be at the sole discretion of the Chair as to whether a member of the Assessment Panel may participate in any discussion regarding an applicant in which the assessor has declared an interest.

Applicant requirements

• As a member of the RIBA, each candidate abides by the RIBA Code of Conduct and therefore the Panel will assume that their statements are correct.
• The Panel is entitled to interview any of the candidates and will interview 5% of all candidates as a spot check.
• Candidates whose applications are not accepted may be required to attend all or some modules of an approved CDA training course before they can re-apply to join the register.
• All members of the CDA register will be required to do a programme of CPD over the year.
• There will be an annual renewal procedure for all CDAs who will need to provide the following:
• annual fee & membership renewal form
• PII insurance renewal evidence
• records of completed CPD
• records of completed CDA projects
• satisfactory feedback from clients

Procedure

• The RIBA will check applications for completeness and compliance on set criteria.
• The compliant applications will be divided up into sets of approx. 30 applications each and allocated to pairs of Assessors (Panel members), where no conflicts of interest have been declared. Therefore a total of 12 panel members (including the CDA chair) will be required to assess 180 applications.
• Application and assessment forms for each set will be sent to each member of the assessment pair one week before the Assessment Panel meeting, for their review prior to the meeting. Pairs of assessors may wish to confer on their assessment of their allocated set prior to the meeting.
• The Panel will assess the applications based on demonstration of 12 core skills and illustrated project information, references and application form submitted by each applicant, which will demonstrate how the candidate meets the skills/experience/ knowledge required to be a CDA