Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) and Apprenticeships in social services consultation

Introduction

We are consulting on the review of the six benchmark SVQs and apprenticeships in social services:

• SVQ Social Services and Healthcare SCQF Level 6,7 and 9
• SVQ Social Services Children and Young people SCQF Level 6,7 and 9

Our short video explains more about this consultation(Opens new window)

Why are these important?

SVQs are the SSSC’s benchmark qualifications for registration. They are important because they ensure individuals can perform their job to National Occupational Standards. This provides a clear measure of job competence and offers significant benefits to both employees and employers.

What have we done?

Following on from the extensive and detailed review of the National Occupational Standards we started the process to review SVQs and apprenticeships in social services. We are co-designing with a dedicated Qualification Design Team (QDT) which includes members from across the sector and a range of stakeholders. We gathered evidence from focus groups held with individuals with lived experience of social services highlighted in our report named Consultation with individuals with lived experience of care or support. We are now looking for feedback to inform final decisions about the qualifications and apprenticeships.

What do we want to achieve?

We want to make sure that SVQs and apprenticeships are up to date so that the registered workforce has the necessary skills, knowledge and qualifications to meet the outcomes of individuals with lived experience of care or support services. We also want to ensure that the needs and requirements of both the social care and children and young people’s multi-skilled workforce employed in social services are met.

Who would we like to hear from?

We would like to hear from a wide range of people involved in social services at all levels including people who work in social services and individuals with lived experience of care or support services.

We value your feedback and it will help us to shape the final qualifications.

When does the consultation start and end?

The consultation is open from 12 January to 25 February 2026.

How can I take part in this consultation?

• This is an online consultation. Note that you need to complete it in one go, it does not save your progress.
• Before starting the consultation, please read the Rationale for proposed changes to mandatory NOS. This explains the changes we are proposing for the SVQs and the questions in the consultation relate to these points.
• Within each section of the consultation on the SVQs, you will find links to documents that you should read before completing the questions. The questions in the consultation relate to this information.
• For the apprenticeships in social services, please read the Apprenticeship Information. The questions in the consultation relate to this information.
• The consultation takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

What happens next?

Leading up to March 2027 we will:

• present and address findings of the consultation to the QDT in March 2026
• credit rate and level the qualifications so they can be placed on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)
• seek qualifications approval by SQA Accreditation
• invite awarding bodies to deliver the qualifications
• work with Skills Development Scotland to seek approval by SQA Accreditation to deliver the apprenticeships.

More about the SSSC and what do we do 

We are the regulator for the social work, social care and children and young people workforce in Scotland.

We protect the public by registering this workforce, setting standards for their practice, conduct, training and education and by supporting their professional development. Where people fall below the standards of practice and conduct, we can investigate and take action.

Impact assessment

Review of SVQs in Social Services and Scottish Apprenticeship Development (December 2025)

Supporting documents