What are NOS?
NOS stands for National Occupational Standards.
They are UK-wide, evidence-based benchmarks for competent performance and there are NOS for virtually every job role in every sector of work in the UK.
Why are NOS important?
The NOS are important on a number of levels but, most importantly, because they are a set of standards, of knowledge and skills, that workers are expected to meet in order to practice competently, safely and effectively in their field of work.
What is the NOS review?
The NOS review usually takes place every 5 years, depending on need.
Work is being undertaken across the UK to review the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Health and Social Care, and Childcare, Learning and Development.
The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is leading on the overall 2024/ 2025 UK review, and the Northern Ireland Social Care Council leading on the review in Northern Ireland.
The NOS are reviewed to confirm that the standards are still relevant, up-to-date, meet Health and Social Care and Childcare sector needs, reflect current practice requirements in relation to legislation, regulations and best practice and are also fit for the future (next 5 – 10 years).
The review is usually undertaken by industry experts, with the views of other key stakeholders, such as employers, workers, service users and regulators, being sought to maximise feedback in the review of the NOS.
The overall purpose of NOS review is to enable individuals who use services to experience good care and support, protection and an improved quality of life.
In what ways do NOS link to practice?
The NOS not only set the standards that practitioners are expected to meet to do their job well but they also:
- Guide training and development to ensure that practitioners work is based on up-to-date models of practice, theory and legislation.
- Underpin all vocational qualifications in the field, support workforce development and planning and promote career progression by setting knowledge, skills and practice requirements that are incrementally aligned with the vocational qualification level for different job roles.
- Promote consistent, high quality care and support for those who use services.
How can employers and registrants get involved in the NOS review?
Employers and registrants can get involved in the NOS review in a number of ways – including:
- Using feedback opportunities and mechanisms to provide feedback on the relevance of current NOS, identifying gaps in the current NOS’s ability to meet sectors needs and sharing what standards need to be updated to better meet sector needs.
- Participating in surveys and consultation events to share views about NOS relating to specific areas of practice.
- Attending focus sessions/ workshops to discuss the NOS with others in the field, share ideas, propose changes to the current NOS and work co-productively with others to propose draft standards for the future.
- Collaborating with the Social Care Council to test the viability of draft NOS in the practice setting.
- Providing practical examples, within the bounds of confidentiality and consent, of how current/ draft NOS are applied in the practice setting.
- Joining steering/ advisory group to inform and guide the NOS review process in Northern Ireland.
NOS Consultation Survey:
As part of the review, the Social Care Council is asking the social care workforce and stakeholders in Northern Ireland to take part in a consultation survey.
This is your opportunity as a social care practitioner, employer, training provider or an individual who uses social care services or cares for someone who uses these services to have a say.
The consultation will run from Monday 4 August to Friday 19 September 2025.
Completing the consultation survey:
- This is an online survey and must be completed in one go – progress will not be saved if incomplete.
- Depending on your knowledge and experience of the NOS, this survey will take at least 15 minutes to complete, but your feedback is really important. We know your time is limited, but your opinions will help to shape the future of the sector.
- The new National Occupational Standards will be published for use in early 2026.
Click here to take part in the survey.
Click here to learn more.
Contacts:
If you have would like more information about the NOS 2024/ 2025 review, please feel free to send an email regarding any of the below and we will get back you to:
mervyn.bothwell@niscc.hscni.net
sharon.foster@niscc.hscni.net
Useful Links:
National Occupational Standards – Health and Social Care
National Occupational Standards – Children’s Care Learning and Development
For more information:
If you have a question or want to know more, please email the workforce development team at: workforcedevelopment@niscc.hscni.net.