17th November 2011, 05:49 PM
From the Ifa members newsletter today:
"In order to apply for RO status, the organisation must have a MIfA-grade Responsible Post-holder in post. Registered Organisations are strictly bound to the IfA Code of conduct and other by-laws, they must work in accordance with defined policies and procedures, and comply with current best practice. One of the scheme’s aims is to help organisations to improve over time and even where they meet the standard of registration, most are registered with recommendations for improvement and are monitored in these areas regularly.
In an ideal world the Institute would like to see all practicing archaeological organisations register with the scheme. This would ensure adherence to IfA standards across the UK within a regulated and peer reviewed system. We believe that as the number of registered organisations increases, the industry will gain greater powers for improving working conditions for all within the heritage sector and we can move towards imposing barriers to entry into the profession. For the past ten years the Institute has been working with curators and colleagues in ALGAO to encourage them to move away from recommending local lists, and instead to recommend that work arising from the planning process is undertaken by Registered Organisations."
So the current issue fo LAs is this point of recommended lists, not a restriction on who can do work.
"In order to apply for RO status, the organisation must have a MIfA-grade Responsible Post-holder in post. Registered Organisations are strictly bound to the IfA Code of conduct and other by-laws, they must work in accordance with defined policies and procedures, and comply with current best practice. One of the scheme’s aims is to help organisations to improve over time and even where they meet the standard of registration, most are registered with recommendations for improvement and are monitored in these areas regularly.
In an ideal world the Institute would like to see all practicing archaeological organisations register with the scheme. This would ensure adherence to IfA standards across the UK within a regulated and peer reviewed system. We believe that as the number of registered organisations increases, the industry will gain greater powers for improving working conditions for all within the heritage sector and we can move towards imposing barriers to entry into the profession. For the past ten years the Institute has been working with curators and colleagues in ALGAO to encourage them to move away from recommending local lists, and instead to recommend that work arising from the planning process is undertaken by Registered Organisations."
So the current issue fo LAs is this point of recommended lists, not a restriction on who can do work.