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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Audit and review forensic findings 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
243260  Audit and review forensic findings 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Forensic Science 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 08 - Law, Military Science and Security Safety in Society 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 7  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L7  5 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-06-30   2029-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
Learners credited with this unit standard are able to perform audits and reviews on forensic findings. The unit standard refers to audits and reviews on results, data and documentation in a forensic environment. Learners will be able to perform administrative and technical reviews and audits by evaluating the quality and importance of results and findings in a forensic environment. The unit standard will also provide learners with competencies to evaluate processes -such as chain of custody- and verify statistical calculations on which results and findings were based. Learners will be able to judge processes making use of objective analysis processes.

A person credited with this unit standard will be able to:
  • Evaluate the evidential recovery process.
  • Evaluate the examination and interpretation of forensic findings.
  • Verify statistical conclusions in a given situation. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    The unit standard:
  • Apply elementary statistical methods ID 242714.

    Learners would need to be familiar with a specific forensic science field and its processes to enable the learner to audit and review these processes such as:
  • Forensic chemistry.
  • Forensic biology.
  • Forensic question documents.
  • Forensic ballistics.
  • Forensic criminalities.
  • Forensic fire investigation.
  • Forensic pathology.
  • Forensic poligraphy. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
  • This unit standard implies that the quality management system of a given organisation must be complied with.
  • Wherever this unit standard refers to a given situation should be understood (but is not limited to) to include a practical scenario or a mock scenario or a theoretical scenario or case study. 
    		•

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Evaluate the evidential recovery process. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    The evidential recovery process include: opening of parcels and exhibit items, performing presumptive tests where appropriate, and perusing related case, exhibit and result information. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The process of recovering evidence is verified according to standardised procedures. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The selection of a preliminary test method is judged in order to determine whether a suitable test was used. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Preliminary tests may include but is not limited to presumptive tests.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The recording process is judged in order to determine validity. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Evaluate the examination and interpretation of forensic findings. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    The process of forensic examination is verified against standardised procedures. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Forensic examination includes from incident scene to laboratory investigations.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    The selection of a test method is judged in order to determine whether a suitable test was used. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The result obtained in the test is judged in order to measure its accuracy and reproducibility. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    The recording of information is judged in order to establish its accuracy and to verify the contents of documents. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    The interpretation of forensic findings are judged in order to confirm validity. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Conclusions reached are judged for quality and judicial purposes. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Verify statistical conclusions in a given situation. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    The assessment criteria must be assessed using at least one manual and one computerised system. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Selected statistical calculation method is justified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Statistical calculations are verified. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Statistical interpretations are judged. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Statistical conclusions are judged. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
  • Anyone assessing a learner against this unit standard must be registered as an assessor with the relevant ETQA.
  • Any institution offering learning that will enable achievement of this unit standard must be accredited as a provider through the relevant SETA/ETQA.
  • Moderation of assessment will be overseen by the relevant ETQA according to the moderation guidelines in the relevant qualification and the agreed ETQA procedures.
  • Assessor must be competent in the outcomes of this unit standard. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
  • Extensive knowledge of the operational process and basic troubleshooting in the specialised field in forensic processes.
  • Working knowledge of the specific software to validate the method used.
  • Illustrate an understanding of quality management to interpret the results and justify the report findings to be conveyed.
  • Extensive knowledge of the techniques applied in the analysis process within specialised fields.
  • Judicial procedure pertaining to forensic evidence.
  • Evidential value. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identifying and solving problems in which responses display the responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking when judging processes followed.

    Utilise appropriate standard operating procedures to achieve desired outcomes, in line with international accepted forensic practice. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise oneself and one's activities in order to plan review and audit processes. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COLLECTING 
    Collect, evaluate, organize and critically evaluate information when conducting reviews and audits. 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively with others in terms of gathering information pertinent to the review and audit process. 

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Core  57977   National Certificate: Forensic Biology  Level 6  Level TBA: Pre-2009 was L6  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  SAS SETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    NONE 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.