national occupational standards (NOS)

what does the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (and 2014 regulations) require of care providers?

• to have sufficient numbers of appropriately qualified staff.

• and to provide or support training and professional development.

why must providers ensure adequate staffing and training?

• to meet the needs of service users and ensure staff can carry out their caring role.

what must new staff in social care complete?

• induction programme that meets the Common Induction Standards 2010.

Within what time frame must the induction programme be completed?

• within 12 weeks of starting the job.

what is the manager’s responsibility for new staff?

• to ensure they understand and implement workplace codes of practice and meet current NOS for their role.

what do National Occupational Standards (NOS) describe?

• best practice and the standards of professional practice required in the workplace.

where are NOS applicable and when were they updated?

• applicable throughout the UK; updated in 2012.

What do NOS underpin in care settings?

• codes of practice and the curriculum for practitioner training.

Which professional bodies use standards also included in NOS?

• bodies such as the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC).

What does a NOS document describe?

• knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to be competent at a job.

Where are completed and approved NOS stored?

• on the UK Standards database.

what are they used for?

• to create qualifications to train individuals for a job.

• employers can create a job description to recruit new staff or a training plan to develop their skills.

• individuals can research diff types of jobs and match their skills/ experience to those that are needed.

how can they help?

• demonstrate to inspectors that health services are planning a workforce who meets the needs of the service users.

• contain descriptions of best practice, th help employees understand how to care for patients.

• employers can use the standards to plan training and education so staff can meet the NOS.

how can hospital ensure you have skills to meet NOS? (8 marks)

• arranging relevant training courses.

• mentoring from more experienced members of staff.

• providing opportunities for continuous professional development.

• identifying skills through interview/selection process.

• having a system that identifies training needs.

• support from inspections to identify gaps in skill.

• policies and procedures available on wards/units.