Quality and accreditation · forged in the laboratory
UKAS technical assessor · ISO training manager · NHS biomedical scientist
Fourteen years in NHS pathology, then a decade assessing and training to ISO standards at UKAS. That is where the habits came from: evidence before opinion, competence you can demonstrate, and documentation someone else can audit. Every module Forged Frameworks builds is held to the same bar.
10+years in ISO 15189, 17025 and 17043 environments
70+ISO assessments conducted, on site and remote
650+training days moved from the classroom to remote delivery, Feb 2020 to Mar 2021
14years in NHS pathology, from MLA to acting manager
How the background shapes the practice
Each strand of the quality career maps directly onto how learning is designed, built and signed off today. Left, what the years taught. Right, what it looks like in a module.
ISO assessment · 70+ laboratoriesEvidence before opinion
In practice
Every module carries pre- and post-assessment data, not just satisfaction scores. If a claim about learning gain cannot be shown, it is not made. The Asbestos ITM was measured this way from cohort one.
Competency frameworks · 150 staff, 8 sectionsCompetence has to be demonstrable
In practice
Learning outcomes are written so an assessor could observe them. Knowledge checks map to apprenticeship KSBs and RQF outcomes, and every session states what the learner can now do.
QMS governance · document and change controlIf it is not documented, it did not happen
In practice
Catalyst logs every stage, every QA finding and every repair. Codex blocks ship version-controlled with change logs. A reviewer can trace any line of content back to its source document.
650 training days moved online · clinicians, calibration engineers, forensic scientistsExpertise is not the same as clarity
In practice
Subject experts stay in charge of substance; the design carries the load of structure, pacing and plain language. Dyslexia-friendly type, sentence case and transcripts are defaults, not options.
Root-cause analysis · CAPA · continual improvementFix the system, not the symptom
In practice
When a module underperforms, the pipeline or template is corrected so the next twenty modules inherit the fix. Lessons-learnt logs feed back into the specs, the same way audit findings feed a QMS.
Current role: digital learning designer and learning technologist
Founder, Forged Frameworks · agentic AI authoring pipelines, bespoke HTML learning blocks, WCAG 2.2 and EN 301 549 consultancy
See the learning design work →
ISO 15189Medical laboratories
ISO 17025Testing and calibration
ISO 17043Proficiency testing
Assessment and accreditation
- Technical assessment of medical, clinical, testing, calibration and proficiency laboratories
- Assessment planning, scoping and assessor competency oversight
- Evidence validation, data integrity and competency assurance
- Supporting organisations through accreditation, audit readiness and evidence reviews
- International accreditation bodies: Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Netherlands
QMS governance
- Quality management system assessment of IMS and LIMS platforms
- Document and record control, internal audit, change management
- CAPA and risk registers
- EQA and IQA monitoring and corrective-action cycles
- Q-Pulse, iPassport and Ideagen platforms
Technical training
- Designed and delivered ISO 15189, 17025 and 17043 training
- IQA, IQC, EQA, metrological traceability and measurement uncertainty
- Verification and validation, competency and authorisation frameworks
- Internal audit, laboratory management and root-cause analysis
- Coaching, mentoring and assessor capability development
Accreditation experience
Selected roles from the UKAS and NHS Wales years. The technical, assessment and quality work behind the learning design.
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Senior training manager
- Delivered ISO 15189, 17025 and 17043 training to clinical, testing and calibration laboratories
- Grew the digital, live and blended portfolio that the COVID year had started
- Managed trainers, budgets and external resource; drove digital transformation
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Training manager
- Moved 650+ training days of classroom teaching to remote delivery between Feb 2020 and March 2021: old material rebuilt for Adobe Connect, Rise 360 learning packs and pre-packs around each session. My introduction to digital learning
- Developed healthcare content: measurement uncertainty, PoCT, proficiency testing, ISO 19011 audit
- Supported assessor-workforce competency, documentation and digital delivery
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Assessment manager, medical laboratories
- Planned and led ISO 15189 assessments for clinical and diagnostic laboratories, including pan-pathology teams
- Oversaw assessor competency, evidence review and governance
- Supported organisations preparing for ISO 15189 and 17025 accreditation
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Technical assessor and quality specialist
- 70+ technical assessments across healthcare, proficiency testing, forensics and calibration
- Advised on competence frameworks, audit preparation and process improvement; led data-integrity checks
- Supported international accreditation bodies
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Acting automated haematology senior
- Training remit for ~150 staff across 8 laboratory sections; chaired a 9-lead training team
- Led the CPA to ISO 15189 transition and test verification (FBC, ESR, IM, MAST)
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Acting haemoglobinopathy diagnostic service manager
- Wales-wide screening for 4 of 7 health boards
- Redesigned sickle cell and thalassaemia antenatal screening: ~6 hours saved per patient contact, ~£42k a year saved via a new algorithm
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Biomedical scientist, from medical laboratory assistant
- Transfusion, morphology and coagulation validation
- EQA participation, corrective-action monitoring and mentoring
- Comparative study of the Yumizen H500 for paediatric PoCT, presented at ISLH
Academic
- MSc Biomedical Sciences (Immunohaematology), Merit · Cardiff Metropolitan, 2016
- BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences, First Class · Cardiff Metropolitan, 2007
- BSc Biology, 2:1 · Portsmouth, 2003
Professional and technical
- UKAS Technical and Lead Assessor: ISO 15189, 22870, 17043
- IBMS Certificate of Expert Practice in Training (2017)
- IBMS Specialist Diploma in Haematology and Transfusion (2010)
- TAP Diploma in Learning Design (2021)
Registrations
- HCPC registered Biomedical Scientist
- Chartered Scientist (CSci)
- IBMS Full Member
Recommendations · UKAS and NHS colleagues
Fellow assessment managers, technical assessors and laboratory clients across UKAS and the NHS. Each one reproduced verbatim from LinkedIn.
We worked together at UKAS as fellow assessment managers for several years. Dan is a great communicator and motivator with a solid background in Pathology and Quality Management. A brilliant team player who is always at the forefront of discussion, innovation and an enthusiastic advocate of effective quality improvement. Able to work well with personnel at all levels with a skill for tailored communication style and building effective rapport.
I'm very fortunate to have worked with Dan as both a Technical Assessor and a Training Specialist. Whatever he does, he gives his all! Fast thinking and an eye for detail. Whatever Dan chooses to do he will succeed due to his grit, determination, professionalism and his developmental approach. I thoroughly enjoy working with you Dan.
Dan is very knowledgeable, highly professional and personable. I found him extremely supportive in the growth of our quality management system and a positive influence in the strive for continual improvement. Highly recommended.
Dan is the consummate professional. His technical and subject-matter knowledge of haematology and blood transfusion is second to none. He provides a fair, honest and thorough assessment to his customers without compromising UKAS neutrality. I have worked with Dan on numerous occasions and never found him to be lacking in his professional knowledge whatsoever. On a personal level Dan is a generous, kind-hearted man with a great sense of humour.
I've been fortunate enough to have worked alongside Dan for the last couple of years because not only does Dan bring a real depth and breadth of technical knowledge to our team, he has an uncompromising drive to continually improve not only his own performance, but that of the organisation we work in and the medical labs he works with in accreditation. He has time for, and engages with, all colleagues whilst being an excellent motivator and team player.
Dan was a great colleague to work with, enthusiastic and involves himself wholeheartedly in his roles and responsibilities. He considers elements of a challenge which are not the most obvious, but produces more effective solutions. This level of critical thinking and self-awareness are rare traits and Dan has these in regular use.
I have only worked with Daniel for a short period of time, but he is a pleasure to work with. He is knowledgeable, hard working, approachable, helpful and a great communicator. He is definitely not one to back down from a challenge, and he will always put a great deal of enthusiasm into everything that he does.
Dan is very efficient, always striving to improve efficiencies and support others in their role. Dan is someone I can approach with any work-related or personal endeavours and know I can move forward with the advice. Strong team member, great communication, self-motivated with strong leadership skills.
Dan is dedicated, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and will work tirelessly to get the job done.
Fantastic trainer. Great assessment manager. Nice bloke.
Technical training design, accreditation consultancy, ISO quality-system support, or regulated-sector eLearning. A short email is enough.