The onset of Covid-19 and the many changes brought about by the pandemic have affected all aspects of working life. This includes the ISO certification industry, which previously only conducted on-site assessments. But Covid has changed this.
Instead of the auditor organising a visit to the business premises, it was necessary for remote assessments to be introduced. Whilst some organisations were happy to accept this off-site approach, others missed the physical visit and the interactive approach that came with it. Because of this, the blended audit was created.
What Is a Blended Audit?
The good news is that with Covid-19 now appearing as less of a risk, UKAS (The United Kingdom Accreditation Service) is allowing certification bodies to put in place a blended approach to auditing, consisting of some on-site work and the rest being carried out remotely. This approach has a number of benefits:
- Enables audits to be undertaken more effectively.
- Minimises business disruption.
- Reduces the impact on the environment.
- Protects the health and safety of employees by reducing the risks of spreading Covid.
Why Are Blended Audits Being Introduced?
The blended audit would likely not have materialised if it weren’t for the Covid-19 pandemic. The need to prevent the spread of the disease became paramount and remote auditing (as included in the blended audit) helps facilitate this. By working with a careful mix of on-site work and remote assessments, the quality of the certification audit has not been diluted.
UKAS has received positive responses from those involved in the new model of blended audits. Many have said that they would prefer the method to continue going forward. This is likely because it is far less intrusive than the traditional on-site method and can be completed in a lesser amount of time. Business can continue ‘as usual’ whilst the blended audit is being carried out.
With this in mind, UKAS has published detailed instructions, clarifying how much of the audit can be implemented remotely and how much on-site. The team at British Assessment Bureau works in accordance with these rules when conducting blended audits for clients.
What Will Change?
The traditional on-site audit that comprised 100% of the assessment will now be replaced by a blended audit. Before commencement, clients will be asked if they agree with the audit being split between an on-site and remote element. Once permission is given, the blended audit can commence.
How Do Blended Audits Work?
A blended audit splits the audit into two elements – an on-site part and a remote part. The content of the audit does not change so clients don’t need to worry that they are receiving a lesser service. Some of the work that used to be conducted on-site will now be conducted remotely using specific information technology made available to the auditor.
The on-site element is typically undertaken first and the remote section afterwards; however, if clients wish to change the order of work, they can do so by arranging this either with our Client Services Team or direct with their allocated auditor.
Most of the time, the audit will be undertaken in these three steps:
- Planning – the remote portion of the blended audit will be planned once the client has given their agreement. The approach will be discussed between the client and the British Assessment Bureau team, taking note of the current IT infrastructure in place as this is critical to the remote work being carried out. A plan will be created to cover each aspect of the remote work, including specific technology and audit methods used by the auditor. Once the client approves the plan, step 2 begins.
- Commencement – for the remote audit to be carried out successfully, communication in the form of voice and video has to be in place. The auditor will collect evidence from the client via interview, the perusal of documentation and records (by using screen sharing) and overseeing processes (via video link if possible). This evidence is then collated and reviewed to enable conclusions to be drawn. It’s the same as a traditional on-site audit but is carried out remotely using the client’s IT and technology provided by the British Assessment team (e.g. Microsoft Teams).
- Report – the report will be issued in the usual way (typically, within 10 days, once it has been reviewed and approved by the Compliance Team).
Why Haven’t All Certification Bodies Introduced It?
The UKAS rules about the blended audit have only recently been introduced. Not all Certification Bodies have the required systems in place yet to be able to cater for the blended audit. However, this is essential to comply with the UKAS guidelines and therefore all UKAS-accredited certification bodies will have to comply with these rules. British Assessment Bureau has invested in the appropriate technology to facilitate the planning and delivery of blended audits both correctly and successfully.
What if We Do Not Have a Physical Office?
As businesses are increasingly moving to a remote-working situation there may be rare occasions where an on-site assessment is not feasible, in which case this will need to be discussed with our Client Services Team and any mitigations agreed with our Compliance Team in order to ensure the audits are conducted in-line with UKAS rules.
Why Can’t We Continue To Have 100% Remote Assessments?
During the pandemic, it was essential that we followed government guidelines and that the risks of transmission were minimised. Now that the restrictions have been lifted and the government guidelines have changed, UKAS has amended its rules to require a mix of both on-site and remote assessments. We are required to comply with the rules, except in the rare circumstances where an on-site assessment is not possible (i.e. 100% remote working and virtual offices).
Where Can I Get More Information?
If you would like further information about the blended approach to auditing or how the remote section is conducted, speak to your account manager by calling 0800 404 7007 (Monday-Friday 8am – 5pm). Alternatively, you can contact us via our website contact form.
