S4 - Forensic Investigations Quality and Compliance Officer
The position of Forensic Investigations Quality and Compliance Officer is to assist the Quality Manager in maintaining, developing and the implementation of the Quality Management System within Forensic Investigations and the broader Force, to ensure high quality standards of forensic service provision and to comply with EU legislation and the Forensic Regulator’s requirements for Forensic Service Providers. To deputise in the absence of the Quality Manager attending meetings and advising on quality requirements and continuous improvement within the department.
1) Support and Assist the Quality Manager by maintaining, managing, and developing the Quality Management System to ensure high quality standards of Forensic Service Provision and ensure compliance to ISO 17025, ISO 17020, ILAC G19 and Forensic Science Regulator Code of Practice.
2) Working with the Quality Manager to ensure they have up to date knowledge of organisational functions and all forensics investigations policies, practices and procedures including management and technical requirements to enable them to ensure compliance with the Quality Standards and Quality Management System (QMS).
3) Assist the Quality Manager to Line manage the Quality Management Team personnel; and indirectly manage plus technical managers and all FI employees in relation to ISO and QMS requirements; including task management, audit schedule management and advising on accreditation requirements.
4) Undertake audits and inspections of Forensic Investigations for both Cheshire Constabulary and other Forces in line with the requirements of the Forensic Science Regulator Code of Practice, the Force’s Quality Standards, ISO standards and relevant legislation.
5) Escalate high level quality incidents to external authorities as required in the absence of the Quality Manager (Forensic Science Regulator/UKAS); and lead quality investigations whilst maintaining continuous correspondence with these authorities and internal senior management during the process of resolution and the initiation of preventative measures.
6) To assist the Quality Manager to be the System Administrator of the QMS, developing or creating new workflows when required, updating organisational charts and users in line with business changes; and maintaining up to date QMS documentation for all processes and procedures to ensure compliance with all relevant standards and legislation.
7) Supervise Unit/Technical Managers with the resolution of high-level non-conformance investigations across Forensics and DMIU teams to ensure they are completed accurately and in compliance with stated turnaround times.
8) Using their knowledge of the appropriate Quality Management Standards, identify and evaluate the risk to the Quality Management System posed by operational changes within Forensic Investigations and DMIU and recommend courses of action to ensure compliance.
10) Representing the Force at national, regional, and local level.
11) Must be able to travel anywhere in the Force area.
To practice within the field of forensics, it is imperative that all staff work in compliance with ISO standards and relevant legislation to extend and maintain the forces accreditation schedule in accordance with the Forensic Science Regulator. Such work involves, but is not limited to, engagement with the QMS, maintenance of training and competence, involvement with proficiency tests, technical management, validation work, auditing, non-conformance investigations, completion of corrective and preventative tasks, updating the relevant documentation and involvement in UKAS assessment visits.