Children’s national occupational standards under review

Skills for Health is reviewing the Children’s Services suite of National Occupational Standards (NOS) and their relevancy to those working in children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and substance use services for children and young people.

As a result of the recent reviews of NOS for Mental Health Services during 2012/3 and the review of NOS for Drug and Alcohol Services (DANOS) during 2013/4, both concluded that the Mental Health NOS and DANOS described healthcare services for the adult population.

A review to find out whether the Children’s Services NOS are relevant to people working in CAMHS and substance use services for this age group is to be undertaken.

The Working Group will be working to revise the NOS in the Children’s Services suite that are within the scope of practice of these workers. New NOS to address any gaps for activities that these workers carry out may also be developed as part of this project.

Skills for Health has held the first meetings of the Steering and Working Groups and the Working Group is now reviewing the content of the NOS. The groups are due to meet again in June and July when the draft NOS will be agreed for wider consultation.

The online consultation will be held over the Summer 2014.  If you would like to contribute or have any other questions about this project, please email [email protected]  The project will complete in January 2015.

For further information about Skills for Health and NOS, please visit the website: www.skillsforhealth.org.uk