About National Occupational Standards (NOS)
What are National Occupational Standards?
National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe competent performance in terms of outcomes of an individual's work and the knowledge and skills they need to perform effectively. They allow a clear assessment of competence against nationally agreed standards of performance, across a range of workplace circumstances for roles. In this way, defining what has to be achieved, rather than what has to be done; they provide the necessary flexibility to meet the needs of individuals.
How are National Occupational Standards developed?
The development of National Occupational Standards is employer-led and is based on collaborative working with a vocational sector. Steering groups and working groups made up of experts and key practitioners from within each sector develop the standards.
- The units are developed by working groups of experts and practitioners in the field
- Once the standards have been written, they are piloted and available for open consultation
- Once developed, they are regularly revised to keep them up-to-date and relevant
- Each Sector Skills Council (SSC) will ensure that practitioners are kept up-to-date and relevant
How do National Occupational Standards work?
National Occupational Standards are divided into units. Each unit describes a key part of someone's job.
Units are usually introduced with a summary, which says:
- What the unit is about
- Who the unit is aimed at
- How it links to other units
- How it fits into the NVQ/SVQ framework
By grouping together units of National Occupational Standards you can specify the full range of performance, knowledge and skills needed for a particular job.
Units are usually divided into two or more elements which describe the activities the person has to carry out.
Each unit contains a number of clear performance criteria which describe what effective workers do and the standards of quality they achieve.
National Occupational Standards often specify the range of circumstances of situations that might have an important impact on the activity. These can help individuals prepare for the different contexts or contingencies that they could face.
NVQs and SVQs show that the holder can carry out the job to the required standard. Candidates need to provide evidence that they:
- Consistently meet the performance criteria
- Have the necessary knowledge, understanding and skills to work competently
Candidates usually have to provide evidence from their work that they have covered specific aspects of the range – the different circumstances or situations in which the task might be carried out. For all other aspects of the range it is sufficient to show they could deal with them competently, if the situation were to arise.
How can National Occupational Standards be used?
NOS can be used for a variety of purposes, such as:
- Workforce Development Planning
- Job Design
- Recruitment and Selection
- Training and Development
- Performance Management
- Progression and Succession Planning
NOS are also used as the starting point for developing Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) units, which are used in qualifications to assess knowledge and competence.
To access more information on the above areas, please refer to our NOS Finder Plus in the Skills for Justice Member Area. Please note that you will require a password for access – telephone 0114 2317373 or e-mail info@skillsforjustice.com.
National Occupational Standards Consultations
Skills for Justice regularly undertakes projects to develop new National Occupational Standards and review existing ones to ensure they are up-to-date and fully reflect the roles.
Consultation with the sector is a key part of this process, and we are always looking for people to get involved – whether that is through joining a NOS working group relevant to your area of work, or providing feedback on draft units.
Details of all the current consultations can be found by clicking here.
