Introduction to UKAS Accreditation Fire Scene Development Programme. David Compton November 2017

Transcription

1 Introduction to UKAS Accreditation Fire Scene Development Programme David Compton November 2017

2 What is UKAS Accreditation? Procedure by which an authoritative body gives formal recognition that a body or person is competent to carry out specific tasks Independent & impartial assessment by competent national accreditation body Demonstration of technical competence & impartiality Delivering confidence to users of forensic services reduces risk

3 UKAS and Forensic Science UKAS has been involved in assessing Forensic Service Providers for over 30 years UKAS developed guidance to assist accreditation of the forensic services to ISO/IEC17025 and now adopted as ILAC G19 A range of forensic providers are now accredited, from large multi-site organisations to smaller specialist laboratories (mainly against ISO/IEC 17025) Modules in a Forensic Science Process

4 UKAS and Forensic Science Agreement between UKAS and the Custodian of the National DNA Database Lab 32 Agreement between UKAS / Forensic Regulator to share information regarding Quality Failures

5 What accreditation standards are there? Laboratories ISO/IEC 17025:2005 (relevant to FSP, Police) ISO 15189:2012 (Medical Laboratory clinical pathology) Inspection Bodies ISO/IEC 17020:2012 (relevant to SoC activities, Casefile Review) Certification Bodies ISO/IEC 17021:2015 (has been relevant to Fingerprint Bureau s ISO9001 certification) Proficiency Testing Bodies ISO/IEC 17043:2012 (A number of PT providers in forensic disciplines)

6 ISO/IEC 17025:2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories Scope of ISO/IEC 17025: demonstrate that they (laboratories) operate a management system, are technically competent, and are able to generate technically valid results specifies the general requirements for the competence to carry out tests including sampling

7 Definition of a Test? ISO/IEC does not only cover analytical measurements but also: Recovery Comparison Identification Presumptive / screening Enhancement Capture / lift / recording Sampling Opinions and Interpretations

8 ISO/IEC 17020:2012 General requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection Inspection Bodies carry out inspections 1.. with the objective of providing information about the conformity of the inspected items Scope of ISO/IEC 17020: competence of bodies performing inspection.. For the impartiality and consistency of their inspection activities 1 Inspections can be simply providing information about the item being inspected.

9 ISO/IEC 17020:2012 ISO/IEC applies to inspection activities Historically used to cover inspections relating to product design, products, material & equipment installations, plant processes & services. Inspections can be based on professional judgement In Europe (and some other parts of the world) it is being used for Scene of Crime accreditation ILAC-G19:08/2014 provides guidance Some Accreditation Bodies have also used ISO/IEC for activities that are more interpretative, even if these are in the laboratory Fire Investigation has a number of inspection activities and also supporting tests.

10 ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and 17020:2012 UKAS assess and accredit directly against ISO/IEC and ISO/IEC Two main areas Management Requirements Technical requirements Used in relation to a variety of ways (flexible in their application) ILAC-G19:08/2014 clarifies the application in a forensic context FSR Code of Practice and Conduct UKAS RG 201 Scene of Crime guidance

11 ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems - Requirements Scope of ISO 9001: specifies requirements for a quality management system focuses on the effectiveness of the quality management system in meeting customer requirements consistently provide product that meets customer and applicable regulatory requirements

12 ISO/IEC 17025/17020 vs ISO 9001 Fundamental difference: - ISO/IEC 17025/17020 cover several technical competence requirements that are not covered in ISO Certification against ISO 9001 does not in itself demonstrate the competence of the organisation to produce technically valid data and results.

13 Accreditation Assessment Impartiality, integrity, independence Competence Requirements of accreditation Appropriate resources and facilities Performance demonstrated to be to required standard Capable of sustaining the required level of performance

14 ISO/IEC 17025/17020 Organisation is required to: Have a documented management system Have competent personnel and define the criteria for competence along with objective evidence of competence Appropriate equipment/facilities and resource where appropriate Technical procedures covering the activities which are going to be accredited Objective evidence that methods are robust and fit for purpose (i.e. validation) Investigate and participate in Inter-Laboratory Comparison or Proficiency Testing if activities involve testing.

15 Accreditation process Surveillance Application Pre-assessment Optional visit Full on-site assessment Year 4 Year 3 CAB UKAS CAB UKAS CAB Full assessment / Decision making and grant of accreditation Surveillance Enquiries Application/fees Processing of Application Preparation for assessment Organising the visits UKAS Pre-visit CAB document record review Team config Pre-assessment 1 day on-site pre-assessment Opening meeting Interviews with users and managers Detailed records review Vertical/Horizontal assessment, witnessing of work Full reporting Closing meeting and debrief Year 1 Year 2 Surveillance

16 Who conducts the assessment? Competence criteria defined for assessors Competent Technical Assessor(s) used to cover scope of activities/services Lead Assessor UKAS Assessment Manager All assessors trained and authorised by UKAS All assessors monitored and evaluated to ensure competence is maintained Technical Assessor are peers from your community UKAS will need to identify a number of TA for this area

17 Next Steps Fire Investigation new area for Accreditation Development Project to be Established Confirm ISO appropriate standard Determine technical activities within scope Establish and confirm robust assessment approach Identify and train technical assessors Undertake a Pilot programme No of participants to be determined (approximately 5) Review outcomes of assessment and previous visits Grant all participants at the same point.

18 Next Steps Current Activities Identifying Technical Activities undertaken at scenes Determine what can be accredited Determine scope of the pilot Confirmed in Expression of interest announcement Readiness of organisations / Road map Determine effective mechanism for witnessing activities Next Activities Expression of Interest Announcement Meeting of interested parties Sign up to Pilot Terms of Reference

19 Benefits of Accreditation a formal structure for organisations to demonstrate their competence to under take tests or inspect scenes/casefiles 3 rd party assurance that an organisation is competent and can produce valid results assessment involves peers from the community providing technical assurance on the quality of the work learning and development process identify improvements to processes is internationally recognised

20 Useful Links About Accreditation Application Process, Case Studies (including approximately costings) N.b specific costing for the fire scene development project still to be determined

21 Questions?