National Occupational Standards
National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe best practice by bringing together skills, knowledge and values.
They are valuable tools as benchmarks for qualifications as well as for defining roles at work, staff recruitment, supervision and appraisal.
Health and social care standards
The Health and Social Care (HSC) NOS are important standards for social care workers and health care workers in all parts of the UK.
There over 200 separate NOS that can be put together to cover all sorts of job roles at different levels of responsibility.
You can search and view the standards on the National Occupational Standards database.
National Occupational Standards database
NOS have a link to qualifications in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have developed all of their qualifications with direct use of the NOS.
A small number of new NOS have been introduced because of new developments in the sector.