TEC Quality gains prestigious
UKAS accreditation

The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is the sole national accreditation body for the United Kingdom. UKAS is recognised by government, to assess against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services. UKAS is appointed as the national accreditation body by Accreditation Regulations 2009 (SI No 3155/2009) and the EU Regulation (EC) 765/2008. UKAS operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government, through the Secretary of State for Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the competence, impartiality and performance capability of these evaluators.

The UKAS accreditation will form the backbone of QSF going forward. Offering both a unique approach to quality assurance in the TEC sector that is driven by objectivity and underpinned by mandatory validation on an annual basis.

Commenting on the award David Pearson CBE, Chair of TEC Quality says: “The UKAS accreditation evidences beyond doubt that TEC Quality is impartial and provides assurance about quality and safety in the use of technology in providing the care and support that people need.

“This news is fantastic for our excellent team and for the sector as a whole. Commissioners, service providers and suppliers alike can benefit hugely from involvement in QSF as it enhances quality through certification that provides an independent evaluation of organisations who deliver technology enabled care to help meet people’s needs.”

Louise Sanders, UKAS Development Project Manager adds: “UKAS and TEC Quality have worked together to develop accreditation for the certification of telecare and telehealth services. UKAS would like to congratulate TEC Quality on their grant of accreditation as a certification body to ISO/IEC 17065, and to acknowledge the considerable amount of work that TEC Quality have completed and how they are driving standards in the sector.”

The award from UKAS will allow TEC Quality to build stronger partnerships with regulators, sector stakeholders and policy makers. As QSF audits are witnessed and reviewed as part of the accreditation and renewal process to ensure impartiality and objectivity then the scheme can be endorsed with greater confidence. This is already evidenced by QSF endorsement by the National Fire Chiefs Council, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives and more recently the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Scotland’s Care Inspectorate.

Alyson Scurfield, TSA Chief Executive, comments: “It’s been of great benefit to have an outside organisation looking at our operation through the microscope. This has resulted in us strengthening our corporate governance, impartiality and independence.

“We’ve been really pleased about the positive nature of the audit. We knew we had a strong scheme and a strong delivery organisation in TEQ Quality, and this award has reinforced that belief. It’s made all the hard work, the restructure and significant investment worthwhile.” 

Following the decision to grant accreditation, TEC Quality will reinforce its improvement agenda. All QSF certified organisations will benefit from our association with UKAS and the use of the national accreditation symbol as a mark of quality.