National Occupational Standards (NOS) Update –
Health and Social Care and Childcare, Learning and Development
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (Social Care Council) is pleased to confirm that the review of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) for Health and Social Care and Childcare, Learning and Development has now been completed.
A newly reviewed and updated suite of NOS is now available for use across the sector.
What are NOS?
- NOS stands for National Occupational Standards.
- The NOS are UK-wide, evidence-based benchmarks for competent performance.
- 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 was the NOS review?
The NOS review usually takes place every 5 years to confirm that the standards are still relevant, up-to-date, meet H&SC 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 Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) led on the overall 2024/ 2025 UK review, with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council leading on the review in Northern Ireland.
The review was undertaken by experts in the relevant sectors and the views of other stakeholders including employers, practitioners and service users were sought.
Why regular review of the NOS matters?
The NOS underpin many qualifications, training programmes and professional development frameworks. Reviewing and updating them helps to promote:
- Consistent, high quality practice across the sector.
- Clear expectations of competence for staff at all levels.
- Strong alignment with emerging policy, research and service priorities.
- Better outcomes for individuals, families and communities.
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 vocational qualifications, 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.
What’s new in the updated NOS?
The refreshed standards include:
- Updated competencies – reflecting modern practice, legislation and regulatory requirements.
- Strengthened focus – on person centred care, safeguarding and professional values.
- New and enhanced elements – supporting digital skills, trauma-informed practice and neurodiversity.
- Clearer progression pathways – having the different levels of NOS – 2, 3 and 4, followed by the management and leadership NOS, they are designed to reflect incremental development of knowledge and skills/ competence and, in turn, to promote progression pathways.
- Improved structure and clarity – to support practitioners, employers, service users and learning providers.
Who should use these standards?
The updated NOS are relevant to:
- Employers and workforce planners.
- Learning and development teams.
- Training providers and assessors.
- Managers and supervisors.
- Practitioners across health and social care and childcare settings.
Next Steps
All organisations and practitioners are encouraged to:
- Familiarise themselves with the new NOS
- Begin embedding them into practice, training and workforce planning
- Use them to support continuous professional development and service improvement
The Social Care Council will continue to support the sector in implementing the updated standards.
Accessing the updated NOS
The updated HSCCLD National Occupational Standards can now be accessed through:
Support and further information
If you have any questions, please contact Mervyn Bothwell (Professional Adviser and/or Sharon Foster (Workforce Development Officer) at the Social Care Council at: workforcedevelopement@niscc.hscni.net.