Consultation closed 19 September 2025.
Introduction
This is a consultation on the proposed changes to the National Occupational Standards for Health and Social Care (H&SC) and Children’s Care Learning and Development (CCLD).
Our short video explains more about this consultation(Opens new window).
We’re reviewing the National Occupational Standards (NOS) that underpin the qualifications and training programmes that you need to work in social care in Scotland, and to register with us.
NOS describe the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to do a particular job to a nationally recognised level of competence. It’s important these standards are up to date and relate to the skills and knowledge needed in different roles.
NOS can be used as a basis for a wide range of activities, such as:
- qualifications
- quality standards and benchmarking
- learning and development
- recruitment
- organisational planning and improvement.
This consultation is part of a UK wide review of the suites of NOS for:
- Health and Social Care
- Children’s Care Learning and Development
The NOS are evidence-based benchmarks for competent performance and are used across the UK by the four nations, Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The review process is guided by the NOS Quality Criteria, NOS Approval Process and quality assurance of the NOS content is carried out by SQA Accreditation on behalf of all four nations.
By taking part in this consultation you can help ensure that the NOS are fit for purpose and reflect current practice.
The new NOS will be available in 2026.
Why are we reviewing the National Occupational Standards (NOS)?
It has been more than 10 years since the NOS were last reviewed. The NOS need to reflect current practice, policy and terminology across the UK, and be current and relevant for all four UK partners. The review team has worked closely with UK partners to achieve this.
Over the last year, the SSSC has led a UK-wide review of the existing 212 NOS to make sure they reflect current practice and skills needed to meet the demands of modern health and social care services. As part of this review, we carried out a gap analysis to understand which aspects of the NOS we needed to update and how, so there is a clear rationale for the changes.
What specific areas are we consulting on?
1. The review identified some gaps in content. For example:
- trauma informed practice
- dignity, kindness and compassion
- participation and decision making
- digital skills
- neurodiversity
- sustainability.
We have addressed all the gaps throughout the revised NOS.
2. The terminology has been updated and simplified, to reflect current practice. The terminology used reflects the expected roles and responsibilities. For example, using words which reflect different levels of responsibility, such as:
- support
- promote
- lead.
3. We found areas of duplication in Health and Social Care NOS and Children’s Care Learning and Development NOS. Some NOS were almost identical. Where appropriate, the NOS have been combined. We have streamlined the number of performance criteria and knowledge points and removed ‘common knowledge’.
Who has been involved in reviewing the NOS?
The review is UK wide.
Throughout the review, we have worked in collaboration with:
- other social care regulators across the UK
- different Stakeholder Advisory Groups across the UK
- the Development Group
- subject experts
- representatives from across the sector
- people with lived experience of care and support services.