Uses and Benefits of the National Occupational Standards

In addition to the development of qualifications National Occupational Standards can be used by organisations and individuals to improve their performance, for example:

For organisations/employers:

  • Identify and plan personnel requirements
  • Develop job descriptions and person specifications
  • Support recruitment procedures
  • Design, deliver and evaluate training
  • Providing coaching and mentoring support to individuals
  • Delegating responsibility to staff
  • Quality assure staff performance
  • Using nationally agreed criteria to carry out performance reviews fairly and consistently
  • Developing and retain a skilled, motivated, confident and flexible workforce
  • Meet the indicators for external accreditation, e.g. Investors in People
  • Aligning individual and team targets to organisational goals
  • Support partnerships by using common standards of performance and quality
  • Demonstrate the organisation’s competence when tendering or applying for funding

For individuals:

  • Develop self confidence and personal effectiveness
  • Track their skills against national standards
  • Ensure best practice at work
  • Comply with statutory requirements
  • Receive constructive and objective feedback from managers
  • Opening up a wider range of career opportunities
  • Transfer of competence to other work
  • A route to nationally recognised qualifications

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