National Occupational Standards (NOS)

National Occupation Standards (NOS) describe what an individual needs to do, know and understand to be able to carry out a particular job role or task. They bring together knowledge, skills and values into a framework for good practice.

NOS are a valuable tool that are used to: 

• identify the requirements for a particular post or job description;
• provide a guide for developing materials for induction, training or development;
• enable a self-assessment of skills and knowledge;
• provide a benchmark and a monitoring tool for best practice;
• form the basis for a range of qualifications, significantly, but not only, NVQs; and
• define roles and levels of competence as part of the supervisory and appraisal process and when undertaking wider workforce planning.

 There are a range of NOS that are relevant to the workforce including -

• Social Work;
• Health and Social Care;
• Children's Care, Learning and Development;
• Learning, Development and Support Services (LDSS);
• Sensory Services;
• Playwork;
• Work with Parents;
• Counselling; and
• Commissioning, Procurement and Contracting for social care.

There are also those which specifically focus on management practice including: 

• Leadership and Management of Care Services;
• Management of Volunteers; and
• Leadership and Management.

CWDC are currently completing a mapping exercise, which aims to identify occupations across the Children's Workforce Network (CWN) that are part of the children and young people's workforce, define the functions of this workforce and identify the National Occupational Standards (NOS) that support the identified functions. 

This should result in a comprehensive occupational map identifying similarities and differences, duplications and gaps between the existing NOS relevant to the children and young people's workforce and the Common Core. This information will be used to support the development of shared NOS, and qualifications derived from the NOS, to support integrated working across the CWN footprint.

All NOS are available to download on the NOS Directory managed by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA). For a full directory of NOS, go to www.ukstandards.co.uk