Review of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) - your chance to take part

The SSSC and Skills for Health would like to invite you to take part in the second round of the Scottish events as part of the review of the National Occupational Standards (NOS) in Health and Social Care and Children's Care Learning and Development.

NOS are nationally agreed statements of competence that individuals are expected to demonstrate in a given occupation. NOS set out the skills, knowledge and understanding required to perform competently in the workplace. NOS may be used in a variety of ways:

• describe good practice in particular areas of work
• set out a statement of competence which brings together the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to do the work
• offer a framework for training and development
• form the basis of national qualifications such as SVQs.

As a partner of the sector skills council, Skills for Care and Development, the SSSC has responsibility to develop and maintain National Occupational Standards for the care sector in Scotland. One of the principles for qualifications accepted for registration by the SSSC is that they are based upon the standards therefore NOS have a significant role in Scotland.

The first round of review events took place in May and June of this year.  At these events comments on the NOS were gathered from members of the wider social services and health sectors, including practitioners, training, FE and HE providers and umbrella and employer organisations.  The NOS have now been changed, updated and in some cases re-written in light of this feedback and they are ready to be reviewed for a second time.  The aim of this second round of events is to consider the incorporation of the changes as proposed by the sectors. 

The events will be held jointly with our Skills for Health partners on:

• 26 October in Dundee
• 31 October in Edinburgh
• 1 November in Glasgow (Fully booked). 

An online consultation will also take place.

If you would like to attend one of these events please return a booking form to Vikki McLeish at vikki.mcleish@sssc.uk.com