The Social Care Council works collaboratively with the social care sector, awarding organisations, further education colleges, other training providers, CCEA Regulation (NI Qualifications Regulator) and other key stakeholders to regularly review and develop work-based/competence qualifications and frameworks to support social care, children and young people’s services.
This is to support the Social Care Workforce Strategy’s vision to “develop a highly motivated, skilled, confident and value driven social care workforce who are recognised and valued for the contribution they make to service users and to society” and support strategic priority 3: social care practitioners will have access to qualifications and opportunities to develop and progress through on-going learning relevant to their role and function.
On this page you will learn about:
- National Occupational Standards (NOS)
- Work-based/competence qualifications
- Qualifications Guide for Social Care
- Social Care Workforce Reform
- Care in Practice (CiP) Framework
- The NI Apprenticeship Framework
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National Occupational Standards (NOS)
National Occupational Standards (NOS) are essential guidelines in the UK. The NOS are UK-wide, evidence-based benchmarks for competent performance. There are NOS for virtually every job role in every sector in the UK.
Why are they 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.
The Health and Social Care (HSC) and Children’s Care Learning and Development (CCLD) NOS were developed by Skills for Care and Development, alongside Skills for Health. These organisations work in partnership with key stakeholders, including employers, educational institutions, regulatory bodies, and practitioners. This collaboration ensures the standards are relevant and comprehensive. The Health and Social Care and Children’s Care Learning and Development NOS aim to:
- Define the skills and knowledge needed for health and social care roles.
- Ensure consistency across the UK in service delivery and quality.
- Support workforce development and planning.
- Provide a foundation for qualifications and training programmes.
- Any reviews of NOS are undertaken jointly by all UK alliance partners.
Click here to learn about the current NOS review.
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Why work-based/competence qualifications?
Work-based/competence qualifications are designed to develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities to work in the health and social care sector.
The qualifications available in Northern Ireland are the RQF (Regulated Qualifications Framework). RQF classifies qualifications according to their ‘level’ and ‘size’ and maps them to the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications, as well as to the European Qualifications Framework.
The Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) requires awarding organisations to meet the General Conditions for Recognition in order to maintain a consistent approach to the level and size of all regulated qualifications.
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Qualifications guide for social care
To support both employers and social care staff, the Social Care Council has developed a Qualifications Guide for Social Care.
What is in the guide?
The guide provides guidance on relevant qualifications that are essential and/or desirable in developing the required knowledge, skills and competency, to ensure support and care is provided to the highest standard.
It can be used to:
- Inform learning and development plans to ensure staff are meeting relevant standards.
- Support individuals to consider what learning, development and qualifications they may need to progress their careers or maintain their knowledge and skills related to their job role and responsibilities.
- All of this learning and development can be used to evidence Post Registration Training and Learning or PRTL
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Do social care practitioners need a qualification to work in social care?
Registered managers in regulated services are the only current group of social care staff where there is a mandatory requirement for a qualification (See pages 14 – 19 of the Qualifications Guide for Social Care for more information).
Social Care Workforce Reform
Changes are happening to support the social care workforce. The Northern Ireland Social Care Council was commissioned by the Department for Health in 2021 to develop:
- a continuous professional learning framework,
- career development pathway,
- qualification-based register for social care practitioners.
This will mean there will be a new practice framework – Care in Practice to support social care practitioners develop professionally. This includes the introduction of the new work-based entrance level qualification – the Level 2 Certificate in Safe and Effective Practice.
See Social Care Workforce Reform for more information on what is happening including work underway to review the current suite of Health and Social Care diplomas that is taking place within Northern Ireland.
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The NI Apprenticeship Framework
The NI Apprenticeship Framework offers employers another pathway to support staff to gain qualifications. These are available to staff working in the independent and voluntary sector and now include All Age Apprenticeships for both new workers and existing employees to get started in social care and develop their career pathway.
Click here for more information about apprenticeships for individuals.
Click here for more information about apprenticeships for employers.
Click here to learn more about apprenticeship week and hear from an employer and an apprentice.
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More information and guidance
See Associated Resources for quick access access to key guidance documents and forms.